Co-current vapor-liquid contacting apparatus

An apparatus for performing co-current vapor-liquid contacting, comprising:

• a plurality of stages, having at least one contacting module and a plurality of receiving pans, said contacting module comprising;
• a) a pair of substantially parallel demisters being spaced apart;
• b) a liquid distributor located between the pair of demisters and cooperating with the demisters to define a contacting volume, the liquid distributor having an outlet in fluid communication with the contacting volume;
• and
• c) each demister having an inlet surface in fluid communication with said contacting volume and an outlet surface superior to separate said receiving pans of said stage;
• wherein at least a portion of said contacting module is located between a pair of said receiving pans, each receiving pan having at least one duct, each duct of one receiving pan providing fluid communication to a separate inferior liquid distributor;
• and the contacting module of at least one of said stages being in non-parallel alignment with respect to the contacting module of another one of said stages.

A method for vapor-liquid contacting, comprising the steps of:

• a) passing a vapor stream upwardly into a contacting volume;
• b) directing liquid through an outlet of a first liquid distributor into the contacting volume;
• c) entraining the liquid in the vapor to flow co-currently into a demister;
• d) separating the liquid from the vapor in the demister;
• e) passing the vapor stream exiting the demister to a superior contacting volume;
• f) delivering the liquid exiting the demister to a receiving pan;
• and
• g) passing the liquid from the receiving pan through at least one duct that directs the liquid into an inferior liquid distributor;
• wherein each duct associated with one of said receiving pan delivers liquid into separate inferior liquid distributors, the inferior liquid distributors being in non-parallel alignment with respect to the first liquid distributor.