# US 7,744,067 B2 · Three phase vapor distributor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,744,067 B2 - Document ID: US7744067B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/595,419 - Filed: 2006-11-10 - Published: 2007-11-01 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2006-05-01 - Assignees: Stone & Webster Process Technology, Inc. - Inventors: Sabah A. Kurukchi; Joseph M. Gondolfe; John A. Stippick; Kenneth J. Fewel, Jr. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7744067B2 ## CPC - B01D 3/008: {Liquid distribution} - B01D 1/0017: {Use of electrical or wave energy (B01D1/0029 takes precedence)} - B01D 1/305: {Demister (vapour-liquid separation)} - B01D 45/12: by centrifugal forces (centrifuges B04B; cyclones B04C) - B01D 45/16: generated by the winding course of the gas stream {, the centrifugal forces being generated solely or partly by mechanical means, e.g. fixed swirl vanes} - B01D 46/10: Particle separators, e.g. dust precipitators, using filter plates, sheets or pads having plane surfaces - B01D 53/18: Absorbing units; Liquid distributors therefor (B01D3/16, B01D3/26, B01D3/30 take precedence; packing elements B01J19/30, B01J19/32) - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) ## Abstract A mass and/or heat transfer column is provided with a multiphase vapor distributor with distributes a vapor stream about the inner periphery of the column. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A multiphase vapor distributor for separation of a mixed vapor phase, said multiphase vapor distributor located within a column comprising a sump and an inlet feed passage, wherein said multiphase vapor distributor is generally annular in construction and has a generally vertical center axis, said multiphase vapor distributor comprising at least a top section, a bottom section and an internal wall connecting said top section and said bottom section; wherein said bottom section comprises at least one opening to said sump, said internal wall comprises at least one opening into an interior space of the annular distributor and said top section comprises at least one opening into an upper region of said column; wherein at least one chamber is formed between an exterior wall of said column, said internal wall, said top section and said bottom section of said multiphase vapor distributor, and wherein said multiphase vapor distributor is adapted to accommodate passage of said multiphase vapor from said inlet feed into said chamber. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The multiphase vapor distributor according to claim 1, wherein said internal wall further comprises at least one baffle, which extends perpendicular from said internal wall of said multiphase vapor distributor to said exterior wall of said column. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The multiphase vapor distributor according to claim 1, wherein the distance between said internal wall of said multiphase vapor distributor and said exterior wall of said column varies. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The multiphase vapor distributor according to claim 1, wherein said internal wall comprises at least one opening for passage of liquid and solid material out of said distributor and at least one opening for passage of vapor out of said distributor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The multiphase vapor distributor according to claim 1, wherein said opening in said bottom section is conical. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The multiphase vapor distributor according to claim 1, wherein said multiphase vapor distributor comprises at least two chambers. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The multiphase vapor distributor according to claim 6, wherein each of said chambers is adapted for receiving a separate inlet feed. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The multiphase vapor distributor according to claim 4, wherein said opening in said internal wall for vapor movement further comprise fixed or movable shutters. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The multiphase vapor distributor according to claim 1, wherein said opening in said top section further comprises vapor chimneys with high hats. ### Claim 10 A multiphase vapor distributor for a mass transfer and/or a heat exchange column comprising: a column comprising an open internal shell and having a generally vertical center axis; at least one vapor inlet nozzle extending through said column shell for directing a multiphase vapor stream in a generally circumferential direction into a generally annularly-shaped multiphase vapor distributor within said column; said multiphase vapor distributor comprising an annular upright interior deflecting surface spaced radially inwardly from said vapor inlet nozzle and a ceiling and a floor extending between said internal deflecting wall and said column shell to substantially close the top and bottom of the distributor; wherein said ceiling comprises at least one opening; said floor comprises at least one opening and said interior wall comprises at least one opening. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The multiphase vapor distributor according to claim 10, wherein said deflecting surface is shaped and positioned in relation to said vapor inlet nozzle to direct a vapor stream circumferentially around an outer periphery of the column interior. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The multiphase vapor distributor according to claim 11, wherein said multiphase vapor distributor comprises baffles, which project perpendicular from said deflecting wall. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The multiphase vapor distributor according to claim 12, wherein said deflector plates are positioned within said vapor distributor in spaced relationship from the vapor inlet nozzle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The multiphase vapor distributor according to claim 12, wherein said interior wall openings comprise windows positioned throughout the internal deflecting wall. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The multiphase vapor distributor according to claim 12, wherein said ceiling openings comprise chimneys positioned throughout said ceiling. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The multiphase vapor distributor according to claim 12, wherein said floor openings comprise conical outlet nozzles located in said floor. ### Claim 17 A method of separating and distributing a multiphase vapor stream comprising vapors, liquids and solids, said method comprising feeding said multiphase vapor stream into a column comprising an open internal shell and having a generally vertical center axis; wherein at least one vapor inlet nozzle extends through said column shell directing a multiphase vapor stream in a generally circumferential direction into a generally annularly-shaped multiphase vapor distributor within said column; wherein said multiphase vapor distributor comprises a generally annular upright interior deflecting surface spaced radially inwardly from said vapor inlet nozzle and a ceiling and a floor extending between said internal deflecting wall and said column shell substantially closing said top and said bottom of said distributor; wherein said ceiling comprises at least one opening for removing and distributing a portion of said vapor to a portion of said column above said distributor; said floor comprises at least one opening for removing a portion of said solids and a portion of said liquids to a portion of said column below said distributor and said interior wall comprises at least one opening for removing a portion of said vapor and a portion of said liquid into a portion of the column located within the annular section of the distributor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein said deflecting surface is shaped and positioned in relation to said vapor inlet nozzle directing said vapor stream circumferentially about an outer periphery of the column interior. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein said deflector plate is positioned within said vapor distributor in spaced relationship from said vapor inlet nozzle; wherein said deflector plate directs said multiphase vapor stream along an outer periphery of said column shell until said multiphase vapor stream reaches a rear baffle; upon reaching said rear baffle said vapor stream ceases forward movement, causing said multiphase vapor stream to back mix and exit said distributor. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method according to claim 19, wherein said openings in said internal deflecting wall, comprise windows adapted for allowing a portion of said vapor to exit said distributor through the top portion of said window and a portion of said liquid to exit said distributor through a bottom portion of said window. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The method according to claim 19, further comprising chimneys positioned in said ceiling, said chimneys designed to allow a portion of said vapor to exit said distributor. ### Claim 22 (depends on 19) The method according to claim 19, further comprising conical outlet nozzles located in said floor of said vapor distributor designed to allow a portion of said liquids and a portion of said solids to exit said distributor. ### Claim 23 A process for separating a multi phase stream into solids, liquids and vapors, said process compromising: a) feeding a multi phase vapor stream into a separation column comprising a vapor phase distributor; b) radially moving said multi phase vapor stream around a chamber of said vapor phase distributor until said multiphase vapor stream contacts a end portion of said vapor phase distributor chamber; c) back mixing of said multi phase vapor phase upon contact with said end portion of said vapor phase distributor chamber; d) removing said vapor phase from said distributor through at least one chimney opening in a ceiling of said multi phase distributor and/or a top portion of at least one window in said side wall of said vapor phase distributor; e) removing said liquid phase from a bottom portion of at least one window in said side wall of said distributor and through at least one opening in a floor of said distributor; and f) removing said solid phase through openings in the floor of said multi phase distributor. ### Claim 24 (depends on 3) The multiphase vapor distributor according to claim 3, wherein said interior deflector wall is chamfered to reduce turbulence. ### Claim 25 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein said interior deflector wall is chamfered to reduce turbulence. ### Claim 26 (depends on 3) A multiphase vapor distributor according to claim 3, wherein said chamber is not blocked or divided. ### Claim 27 (depends on 17) A method according to claim 17, wherein said chamber is not blocked or divided. ### Claim 28 (depends on 10) The multiphase vapor distributor according to claim 10, wherein said interior deflector wall is chamfered to reduce turbulence. ### Claim 29 (depends on 10) A multiphase vapor distributor according to claim 10, wherein said chamber is not blocked or divided. ### Claim 30 (depends on 1) A multiphase vapor distributor according to claim 1, wherein one or more of said openings further comprises a filtration and/or separation element. ### Claim 31 (depends on 10) A multiphase vapor distributor according to claim 10, wherein one or more of said openings further comprises a filtration and/or separation element. ### Claim 32 (depends on 17) A method according to claim 17, wherein one or more of said openings further comprises a filtration and/or separation element.