Apparatus for improved liquidvapor contact

Claim 1

A LIQUID-GAS CONTACTING TRAY FOR USE IN A DISTILLATION TOWER WHICH COMPRISES: (A) AN IMPERFORATE INLET SURFACE FORMING PART OF THE PERIMETER OF SUCH TRAY, ADAPTED TO BE SECURED NORMAL TO THE INNER WALL OF SAID DISTILLATION TOWER FOR RECEIVING LIQUID; (B) A DOWNCOMER MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE POSITIONED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE DISTILLATION TOWER INNER WALL, SPACED ABOVE AND COEXTENSIVE WITH THE INLET SURFACE (A) AND INWARDLY FROM THE TRAY PERIMETER SO AS TO FORM AN EXIT PATH BENEATH THE LOWER END OF SAID DOWNCOMER MEMBER FOR SAID LIQUID FROM SUCH INLET SURFACE; (C) A WALL CONTIGUOUSLY ASSOCIATED AND COEXTENSIVE WITH THE INNERMOST EDGE OF INLET SURFACE (A) AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SUCH EDGE BEING INWARDLY POSITIONED FROM DOWNCOMER MEMBER (B) SO AS TO CONSTITUTE A LIQUID APPROACH PATH COMMUNICATING WITH SAID EXIT PATH; (D) A DOWNWARDLY AND INWARDLY INCLINED WALL CONTIGUOUSLY ASSOCIATED AND COEXTENSIVE WITH THE UPPER EDGE OF WALL (C) HAVING PERFORATIONS ACROSS THE ENTIRE SURFACE THEREOF AND OF SUFFICIENTLY SMALL CROSSSECTIONAL AREA FOR ONLY UPWARD GAS FLOW THERETHROUGH, WITH THE PERFORATIONS WALLS BEING INCLINED TO THE TOP SURFACE OF SUCH INCLINED PERFORATED WALL (D) SO THAT THE ANGLE OF INCLINATION WITH RESPECT TO THE DOWNHILL SIDE OF SAID TOP SURFACE IS IN THE FIRST QUADRANT, THEREBY PERMITTING THE BUBBLING OF RISING GAS INTO THE DOWNWARDLY FLOWING LIQUID OF REDUCED DEPTH;