Glitsch, Inc.

Gilbert K Chen

Jorge A Bonilla

Robert McKelvy

Don Glaspie

Adam T Lee

Timothy L Holmes

George De Bruyn

Michael J Binkley

Kuang-Yeu Wu

Gary Wayne Gage

Donald L Glaspie

John R Axe

B Layton Kitterman

Michele Acerra

Augusto Mastrodomenico

Method of and apparatus for multi-phase contact utilizing louvered structured packing. The packing is provided in corrugated sheets and between the fold lines of the corrugations; a plurality of large louvered openings are disposed in generally parallel spaced relationship. An array of small louvers is disposed between the large louvers. Each of the louvers is oriented for selectively vectoring a liquid-liquid or liquid-vapor around and through the corrugated sheets when disposed within a process tower.

Tower packing with small and large louvers and mixing method

Method of and apparatus for multi-phase contact utilizing louvered structured packing. the packing is provided in corrugated sheets and between the fold lines of the corrugations, and a plurality of large louvered openings are disposed in generally parallel spaced relationship. An array of small louvers is disposed across the sheets, and each of the louvers is oriented for selectively vectoring the flow of liquid-vapor or liquid-liquid around and through the corrugated sheets when disposed within a chemical process tower.

Tower packing with small louvers and mixing method

A vapor horn-packing bed assembly for a chemical process tower incorporating a plurality of directional flow vanes within a 360 degree annular housing. A structured packing bed is disposed centrally of the annular housing and the vapor horn is disposed in flow communication with the packing bed wherein discharged vapor will ascend therethrough. The vapor horn includes a plurality of equally spaced flow vanes positioned for intercepting and diverting the vapor flow downwardly within the tower for generating a substantially homogenous vapor region beneath the packing bed. The homogenous vapor generated by such a vapor horn will comprise a turbulent, gaseous region having sufficiently uniform kinetic energy to present a substantially even ascension front into the packing bed of the vapor horn assembly and other packing beds thereabove.

Method of and apparatus for vapor distribution

Method of and apparatus for vapor-liquid contact utilizing louvered structured packing. The packing is provided in corrugated sheets and between the fold lines of the corrugations, a plurality of large louvered openings are disposed in generally parallel spaced relationship. An array of small louvers is disposed between the large louvers. Each of the louvers is oriented for selectively vectoring the flow of liquid and/or vapor around and through the corrugated sheets when disposed within a process tower.

Tower packing with small and large louvers

Method of and apparatus for vapor-liquid contact utilizing louvered structured packing. The packing is provided in corrugated sheets and between the fold lines of the corrugations, a plurality of large louvered openings are disposed in generally parallel spaced relationship. An array of small louvers is disposed across the sheets, and each of the louvers is oriented for selectively vectoring the flow of liquid and/or vapor around and through the corrugated sheets when disposed within a chemical process tower.

Tower packing with small louvers

An improved liquid flow distributor assembly for a process column of the type wherein the distributor is positioned above a packing section for the distribution of liquid downwardly therethrough. The improvement comprises a plurality of distributor troughs constructed with a series of internal distributor channels having stilling plates depending therefrom. Each channel is constructed of a generally U-shaped cross section, aligned with and affixed to the distributor trough for providing primary liquid flow to intermediate regions thereof. In this manner, liquid gradients between opposite ends of the troughs are eliminated and a uniform quiescent liquid level is maintained.

Double-deck distributor and method of liquid distribution

Disclosed is a tower packing for vapor-liquid contact which includes a plurality of sheets of corrugated material, the sheets being arranged generally vertically and parallel to one another with the corrugations of adjacent sheets criss-crossing one another. The sheets are provided with a plurality of holes for effecting both liquid and vapor distribution in said packing, and the holes are arranged on the sheets with the horizontal spacing between adjacent holes being no greater than about five times the horizontal extent of a hole, and in no event greater than about 5 millimeters. The horizontal extent of the holes is no greater than about 2 millimeters. In one form the packing is constructed so that the angle said corrugations strike to the vertical axis of the packing and the fold-to-fold dimension of the corrugations are so selected with respect to the horizontal and vertical extent of a hole and the horizontal and vertical spacing between adjacent holes that a plurlity of said holes fall on a given corrugation fold of a sheet.

Structured tower packing

Process tower vapor/liquid flow distributor and packing bed comprising a plurality of relatively thin corrugated layers stacked one atop the other. The corrugated sheets are disposed in face to face contact with respective corrugations inclined to the horizontal and facing one another for the countercurrent passage of vapor and liquid therethrough. At least two layers are utilized and rotationally offset for diverting the vapor liquid in two separate directions to effect maximum vapor liquid distribution for countercurrent fluid flow passing therethrough. An improved homogenous mixture of vapor/liquid within the process tower packing sections may thus be provided. The assembly affords optimal pressure drop characteristic while maximizing even vapor/liquid distribution into the packing regions. In this manner the distribution sections may be disposed throughout the process tower above and below each packing section, or in place of the packing section for distributing the descending liquid flow as well as the ascending vapor flow therethrough. This configuration maximizes the efficiency of the distribution thereacross and the homogenous mixture interaction therein.

Apparatus for flow distribution in packed towers

Metal vapor-liquid contact plates disposed in face-to-face contact with respective corrugations inclined to the horizontal across an open notional plane. The metal packing is disposed within a vapor-liquid contact column for the purpose of bringing about mass and heat transfer between liquid and vapor passing in opposite directions therethrough. The body portion of each metal plate comprises metal that has been slitted to provide both surfaces thereof with a very large number of apertures with little wasted material. The metal lands defining the apertures are, moreover, twisted and angulated. The apertures in the plates also trap liquid and expose it to the vapor stream on both sides of the metal affording self-spreading of the liquid and turbulent vapor flow therethrough. In this manner, the assembly affords optimal pressure drop characteristics, surface to vapor passage area ratio, and vapor-liquid distribution characteristics. The laminate plate formation may also afford select flow and turbulence characteristics through capillary action between offset laminate land areas of the corrugated sheets.

Tower packing material and method

Process tower vapor-liquid contact method and apparatus comprising stacks of corrugated contact plates having perforated lamella disposed therebetween. The corrugated plates are disposed in face-to-face contact with respective corrugations inclined to the horizontal and separated one from the other by a perforated sheet. The assembly affords optimal pressure drop characteristics, surficial area, vapor passage area, and vapor-liquid distribution characteristics with maximum efficiency. The sandwiched plate separating adjacent corrugated contact plates greatly increases the mass and heat transfer between the liquid and vapor phases passing thereacross by effectively segregating opposed corrugated channels and establishing a plurality of vapor-liquid contact areas positioned for engaging both vapor and liquid flow in opposed directions through the oppositely inclined corrugations of adjacent plates. In this manner the notional plane is defined between stacks of inclined corrugated contact plates and provided in a configuration providing multiple mass and heat transfer points between adjacent corrugations and the flows directed therethrough wherein the vapor-liquid contact is maximized with a minimum of pressure drop.

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Farmers Branch, TX, United States of America

Gilbert K Chen