Apparatuses for stripping gaseous hydrocarbons from particulate material and processes for the same

An apparatus for stripping gaseous hydrocarbons from particulate material, the apparatus comprising:

• a vessel containing a stripping section;
• an entrance for advancing particles that contain hydrocarbons to the stripping section;
• a distributor for uniformly communicating a stripping vapor to the stripping section;
• a structured packing disposed in the stripping section and configured for passage of the particles and the stripping vapor in countercurrent contacting flow to remove at least a portion of the hydrocarbons with the stripping vapor to form stripped particles, the structured packing comprising:
• a first formed strip comprising first alternating segments that define a first vertical element that has a first upper portion and a first lower portion, wherein the first alternating segments each have a first upper sloping element and a first lower sloping element extending from the first upper portion and the first lower portion, respectively, in opposite directions and at an incline to the first vertical element, and wherein the first upper sloping elements and independently the first lower sloping elements of the first alternating segments extend in alternating directions that are angular to each other;
• a plurality of reinforcing rod sections comprising:
• a first plurality of upper reinforcing rod sections overlying the first upper portion of the first vertical element and disposed adjacent to the first upper sloping elements, wherein the first plurality of upper reinforcing rod sections are spaced apart such that a first plurality of drainage gaps are formed each correspondingly adjacent to one of the first upper sloping elements;
• and/or
• a second plurality of lower reinforcing rod sections disposed adjacent to the first lower sloping elements of alternate segments of the first alternating segments distally from the first vertical element, wherein the second plurality of lower reinforcing rod sections are spaced apart such that a second plurality of drainage gaps are formed each correspondingly adjacent to one of the first lower sloping elements of the alternate segments;
• and
• a port for receiving the stripped particles.

A process for stripping gaseous hydrocarbons from particulate material, the process comprising the step of:

• contacting particles containing hydrocarbons with a stripping vapor in countercurrent flow to remove at least a portion of the hydrocarbons with the stripping vapor to form stripped particles, wherein contacting the particles includes:
• advancing the particles down a sloping element of a structured packing toward a lower section of the sloping element;
• passing the particles through a drainage gap formed between a pair of reinforcing rod sections that are disposed adjacent to the lower section of the sloping element;
• and
• contacting the particles with the stripping vapor that is rising up adjacent to the drainage gap.