Liquid distributor apparatus for high turndown ratios and minimum fouling

Abstract

An improvement in an apparatus for distributing a downflowing liquid uniformly across the packed bed of a vapor-liquid contact column is disclosed. The improvement comprises a predistributor which comprises a plate and an upstanding wall member along one edge. This wall member defines the periphery of the plate such that an open-top compartment is formed. A plurality of drip tubes is installed in the compartment and are defined by upstanding tubular members which extend above and below the plate and which are fastened to the plate, each drip tube having a lengthwise slot extending from the top of the drip tube. The apparatus also comprises a lower distributor unit, which can be of a conventional design or substantially similar to the upper distributor unit, except with additional wall members define separate, open-top compartments. The predistributor and lower distributor unit are mounted horizontally inside the column above the packed bed, such that the predistributor unit is oriented above the lower distributor unit, and at least one of the predistributor unit's drip tubes is in liquid connection with the lower unit. The downflowing liquid enters the predistributor unit through a standpipe conduit, flows through the drip tubes of the predistributor into the lower distributor, then continues through the lower distributor unit downwardly onto the packing.