Grids for fluid contact apparatus

Claim 1

A multi-functional grid system for use in a vapor-liquid contact vessel comprising: a grid positionable in a vessel and mountable on supports located in said vessel; said grid comprising a multiplicity of stacked layers of thin vertically oriented ribs with the upper layers being supported by the lower layers, each rib and layer being of relatively shallow height, said grid having at least three vertically superimposed zones; the ribs in the uppermost of said zones being flange-free and spaced with respect to each other and with respect to a downcoming spray of liquid to distribute the liquid substantially uniformly across the horizontal extent of said grid and prevent lateral migration of descending liquid as it courses downwardly through said uppermost zone; at least some ribs in the intermediate of said zones being provided with generally horizontally extending flanges for intercepting descending liquid and forming it into films on said flanges and ribs for contact with ascending vapor, for disentraining liquid being carried upwardly by ascending vapor, and for locally constricting the flow path of ascending vapor to create turbulence therein, the upper surfaces of said flanges being dammed at intervals by thin vertically oriented ribs to substantially prevent lateral migration of liquid therealong, said flanges being substantially coextensive in length with their associated ribs and extending transversely on both sides thereof; and at least some ribs in the lowermost of said zones being provided with generally horizontally extending flanges having upstanding margins, said flanges and margins forming liquid collecting troughs constructed and arranged to collect descending liquid and convey it laterally of the vessel and along the troughs to liquid gathering means, said flanges and margins being substantially coextensive in length with their associated ribs and extending transversely on both sides thereof.