Apparatus and process for distributing a mixed phase through solids

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein (b) comprises a plurality of said hollow chimney members spaced across substantially the entire cross-section of said tray deck and said apertures through said chimney member along the length of said chimney member below said top opening are located so that when said apparatus is in use, said liquid level on said tray deck is above the top of said apertures.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plate means has a cross-sectional area of at least as large as the cross-sectional area of said top opening of said chimney member and wherein said liquid level on said tray deck is above the top of said aperture by a distance L wherein said distance L is at least about three times the diameter of said aperture.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said top opening is from about 1 inch to about 24 inches above said tray deck and is from about 3 square inches to about 100 square inches in area, said apertures are from about 0.05 square inches to about 3.0 square inches in area, the center lines of the apertures is in the range from about near the level of said tray deck to about 6 inches above said tray deck and said plate means is in the range from about 0.05 inch to about 1 foot above said top opening.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said hollow chimney members are cylindrical in shape, said apertures are circular in shape and the cross-sections of said top opening and said plate means are circular in shape.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plate means comprises a perforated member the solid portion of which is situated so as to restrict said mixture from flowing directly into the top openings of said chimney members.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said perforations of said perforated member comprise from about 10% to about 50% of the total cross-sectional area encompassed by said perforated members.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said top opening is from about 1 inch to about 24 inches above said tray deck and is from about 3 square inches to about 100 square inches in area, said apertures are from about 0.05 square inches to about 3.0 square inches in area, the center lines of the apertures and in the range from about near the level of said tray deck to about 6 inches above said tray deck and said perforated member is in the range from about 0.05 inch to about 1 foot above said top openings.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said hollow chimney members are cylindrical in shape, said apertures are circular in shape and the cross-sections of said top opening and said perforations are circular in shape.

Claim 11

A process for distributing a generally downwardly flowing liquid-vapor mixture through a bed of solid particles which comprises: causing said liquid-vapor mixture to flow toward a tray deck located above said bed of solid particles whereby at least a portion of said vapor enters top openings of a plurality of hollow chimney members attached to said tray deck and extending upwardly from said tray deck, spaced across substantially the entire cross-section of said tray deck, and in fluid communication with said bed of solid particles, and a major portion of said liquid enters the hollow spaces of said chimney members through a plurality of apertures along the length of said chimney members below said top openings of said chimney members, the center lines of said apertures being located at a substantially uniform distance above said tray deck, by building to a level above the level of apertures of said chimney members, said liquid-vapor mixture being restricted from flowing directly into said top openings of said chimney members by a plate means located above said top openings of said chimney members, at least a portion of said vapor entering said top openings from about 1 inch to about 24 inches above said tray deck through an area of from about 3 square inches to about 100 square inches, and at least a portion of said liquid entering said apertures which are from about 0.05 square inches to about 3.0 square inches in area and said liquid attaining a level above the top of said apertures by at least about three times the diameter of the smallest aperture.

Claim 12

A process for distributing a generally downwardly flowing liquid-vapor mixture through a bed of solid particles which comprises: causing said liquid-vapor mixture to flow toward a tray deck located above said bed of solid particles whereby at least a portion of said vapor enters top openings of a plurality of hollow chimney members attached to said tray deck and extending upwardly from said tray deck, spaced across substantially the entire cross-section of said tray deck, and in fluid communication with said bed of solid particles, and a major portion of said liquid enters the hollow spaces of said chimney members through a plurality of apertures along the length of said chimney members below said top openings of said chimney members, the center lines of said apertures being located at a substantially uniform distance above said tray deck, by building to a level above the level of apertures of said chimney members, said liquid-vapor mixture being restricted from flowing directly into said top openings of said chimney members by a plate means located above said top openings of said chimney members, at least a portion of said vapor entering said top openings from about 1 inch to about 24 inches above said tray deck through an area of from about 3 square inches to about 100 square inches, and at least a portion of said liquid entering said apertures which are from about 0.05 square inches to about 3.0 square inches in area and said liquid attaining a level above the top of said apertures by at least about three times the diameter of the smallest aperture.