Process for using cocurrent contacting distillation columns

In a process for fractionating, entrainment removal, absorption, stripping, or the like, the improvement comprising, providing a tray type tower apparatus enabling reduction of tray spacing and reduction of horizontal apparatus area and thereby reducing apparatus cost, while enabling very high vapor velocity upward through the apparatus and resulting in high operating efficiency, comprising vertically disposed column means including surrounding wall means, plural vertically spaced horizontally disposed tray means occupying a relatively larger horizontal area portion of said column, vertically disposed tubular downcomer means occupying a relatively smaller horizontal area portion of said column, and a vapor-liquid separator means occupying said relatively larger horizontal area portion of said column spaced above each said tray means, said relatively larger horizontal area portion of said column providing a relatively large flow passage for upward flow of vapor and liquid between said tray means and separator means, and said relatively smaller horizontal area portion of said column providing flow passage means for downward flow of liquid to feed the uppermost of said tray means and downward flow of liquid from relatively higher separator means to relatively lower tray means and downward flow of liquid from the lowermost of said separator means, liquid being separated from a gas-liquid mixture by each separator means and the separated liquid being delivered into a said downcomer means by each said separator means, said vapor liquid separator means producing downflow liquid of relatively high density and substantially removing liquid from upflowing vapor whereby vertical tray spacing may be reduced resulting in reduction of apparatus height, and said tray means having relatively high upward vapor flow capacity whereby horizontal apparatus area may be reduced;

• operating said apparatus at tray efficiencies of up to about 92%.