Apparatus for increasing effective active area
AssigneeGlitsch, Inc.
InventorsAdam T. Lee, Kuang Wu, Larry Burton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A downcomer-tray assembly for vapor liquid contact towers with enlarged effective active areas. The downcomers are constructed with support baffles enabling intermediate areas of the downcomer-tray to be supported therefrom and outer areas of the downcomer-tray to be supported by an active tower support ring. An active bridge may be used between end-to-end downcomers for maximizing the active area of the associated tray.
Claims26
A downcomer-tray assembly for a vapor-liquid contact chemical process column of the type wherein said trays are formed with active regions thereon for the ascending flow of vapor therethrough and wherein liquid is directed to flow upon a first tray and downwardly therefrom through a first series of downcomers disposed therein onto a second tray and across active regions thereof between individual ones of a second series of downcomers disposed therein, said assembly further comprising:
- means associated with said downcomer tray assembly and said column for the support of intermediate portions of said downcomer-tray assembly therein;
- and
- a tower support ring extending circumferentially around said downcomer-tray assembly and having formed therein apertures for facilitating the ascending flow of vapor therethrough.
In a chemical process column of the type wherein liquid flows downwardly and vapor ascends upwardly through mixing regions thereof, a downcomer-tray assembly comprising:
- a first tray formed with active regions thereon for the ascending flow of vapor therethrough and having at least one downcomer disposed therein;
- a second tray having active regions thereon and disposed beneath said first tray and having at least a second downcomer disposed therein;
- means associated with said column and extending across at least one of said first and second trays in support of intermediate portions thereof;
- means for supporting the perimeter of said trays relative to said support means;
- and
- said perimeter support comprising a ring secured to said column circumferentially around said tray and having formed therein apertures for facilitating the ascending flow of vapor therethrough.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.