Gas-liquid contacting apparatus

Claim 1

A gas-liquid contacting apparatus comprising an upright column in which the gas flows upwardly, a series of trays mounted transversely in said column in vertically-spaced relation, means for maintaining liquid thereon at a predetermined depth including downcomer means to transfer liquid from an upper tray to the next lower tray and arranged so that the gas does not flow upwardly through said downcomer means, said downcomer means for the next lower tray being positioned at the opposite side of the column from the downcomer means for the upper tray, whereby the liquid is directed to flow across said tray from said upper cowncomer means to said next downcomer means, and a plurality of semicircular gas-flow openings in each tray through which the gas is adapted to flow, contacting structure surrounding each of said openings comprising a semi-cylindrical tubular wall projecting upwardly from said tray and having apertures at a lower position below said predetermined depth of liquid to permit discharge of the liquid from the tray therethrough, each said wall comprising a plane portion transverse to the direction of flow across said tray and facing the flow, and an arcuate portion extending around said opening, a tubular plate disposed vertically above the predetermined depth of liquid on said tray and overlying said tubular wall and having perforations to permit gas flow therethrough, said structure being designed so that the liquid from said tray discharged through said apertures is blown up by the gas ascending through the gas-flow opening of the tray, the desired gas-liquid contact being effected within said perforated plate above said gas-flow opening, and a cover above said perforated tubular plate to prevent gas and liquid within said perforated plate from ascending.