US4132761A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gas-liquid contacting
Assignee: Merix Corp
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Filing: 1977-05-31
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Granted: 1979-01-02
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Expires: 1997-05-31
Abstract
Abstract Gas-liquid contacting system featuring, in an SO 2 scrubbing embodiment, reduced liquid entrainment which, in various aspects, eliminates the need for liquid recirculation, and permits spray regime operation increasing the ratio of SO 2 absorption to sulfite oxidation. In various embodiments the entrainment is reduced by closely spaced vertical baffles above the tray, or a perforated plate or porous mesh beneath the tray.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas W. Mix
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 00:08
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D3/00; B01D3/14; B01D3/16; B01D3/22; B01D3/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
In an SO 2 scrubbing process comprising supplying gas to be scrubbed through an orificed tray in a contacting and separating stage of the cross-flow type having gas and scrubbing liquid inlets thereto, wherein said tray is mounted in effective communication with both said inlets to permit gas to rise through said tray to contact liquid thereabove and produce a two phase dispersion of gas and liquid supported on said tray, that improvement comprising reducing liquid entrainment by providing a multiplicity of spaced, generally vertical baffles above said tray, said baffles extending generally in the direction of liquid flow across said tray and being sufficiently close together to substantially reduce the amplitude of vertical oscillations in said dispersion having a wavelength which is small relative to the width of said tray, reducing the rate of liquid flow along said tray sufficiently to permit carrying out said process without the need for liquid recirculation at said stage, and carrying out said process without said recirculation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
164 words
In an SO 2 scrubbing process comprising supplying gas to be scrubbed through an orificed tray in a contacting and separating stage of the cross-flow type having gas and scrubbing liquid inlets thereto, wherein said tray is mounted in effective communication with both said inlets to permit gas to rise through said tray to contact liquid thereabove and produce a two phase dispersion of gas and liquid supported on said tray, that improvement comprising reducing liquid entrainment by providing a multiplicity of spaced, generally vertical baffles above said tray, said baffles extending generally in the direction of liquid flow across said tray and being sufficiently close together to substantially reduce the amplitude of vertical oscillations in said dispersion having a wavelength which is small relative to the width of said tray, reducing the rate of liquid flow along said tray sufficiently to permit carrying out said process without the need for liquid recirculation at said stage, and carrying out said process without said recirculation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The improvment of claim 1 wherein the liquid flow rate along said tray has an effective lower limit related to the rate of said liquid entrainment in the absence of said baffles, and said process includes the step of reducing said liquid flow rate to below said limit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said process is carried out at a plurality of successive said stages, each with its own tray and baffles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said scrubbing liquid is a solution of Na 2 SO 3 .
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The improvement of claim 1 further comprising the step of carrying out said process with said dispersion in the spray regime.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
64 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said entrainment is further reduced by providing means mounted beneath said tray to form a flow resistance sufficiently close to the underside of said tray to substantially reduce pressure coupling beneath the underside of said tray and the main volume of vapor beneath said tray, whereby said minimum permissable vapor velocity and said dumping point are correspondingly lowered.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The improvement of claim 6 wherein said means is a perforated plate spaced beneath said tray.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The improvement of claim 7 wherein said tray is a plate having perforations misaligned with those of said means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The improvement of claim 7 wherein the spacing between said tray and said perforated plate is no less than one-fourth the average diameter of the perforations in said plate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The improvement of claim 6 wherein said means is porous mesh mounted in contact with the undersurface of said tray.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The improvement of claim 10 wherein said mesh has a flow resistance not substantially less than the flow resistance of said tray.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said entrainment is further reduced by an impingement type separator mounted about said tray in the path of vapor passing to the stage above, said separator having its major surfaces tilted at 45°-75° to the horizontal and extending generally parallel to the direction of liquid flow along the tray.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
127 words
In a gas-liquid contacting process of the type in which it is desired to have a high gas phase mass transfer rate and a low liquid phase mass transfer rate, comprising supplying gas through an orificed tray in a contacting and separating stage of the cross-flow type having gas and liquid inlets thereto, wherein said tray is mounted in effective communication with both said inlets to permit gas to rise through said tray to contact liquid thereabove and produce a two phase dispersion of gas and liquid supported on said tray, that improvement comprising, reducing liquid entrainment sufficiently below the rate of liquid supply to said tray to enable efficient operation in the spray regime, and carrying out said process with said dispersion in the spray regime.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
127 words
In a gas-liquid contacting process of the type in which it is desired to have a high gas phase mass transfer rate and a low liquid phase mass transfer rate, comprising supplying gas through an orificed tray in a contacting and separating stage of the cross-flow type having gas and liquid inlets thereto, wherein said tray is mounted in effective communication with both said inlets to permit gas to rise through said tray to contact liquid thereabove and produce a two phase dispersion of gas and liquid supported on said tray, that improvement comprising, reducing liquid entrainment sufficiently below the rate of liquid supply to said tray to enable efficient operation in the spray regime, and carrying out said process with said dispersion in the spray regime.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
11 words
The improvement of claim 13 in an SO 2 scrubbing process.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The improvement of claim 14 wherein said scrubbing liquid is a solution of Na 2 SO 3 .
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The improvement of claim 13 wherein said entrainment rate is reduced to no more than 20% of said liquid supply rate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
56 words
The improvement of claim 13 wherein said entrainment rate is reduced by providing an impingement type separator mounted above said tray in the path of vapor passing to the stage above, said separator having its major surfaces tilted at 45°-75° to the horizontal and extending generally parallel to the direction of liquid flow along the tray.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The improvement of claim 17 wherein said process is carried out at a plurality of successive said stages, each with its own said tray and separator.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
The improvement of claim 13 wherein the free area of said tray is sufficiently low that the momentum of gas flow through said tray is not substantially less than the liquid head on said tray.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
156 words
In an SO 2 scrubbing process comprising supplying gas to be scrubbed through an orificed tray in a contacting and separating stage of the cross-flow type having gas and scrubbing liquid inlets thereto, wherein said tray is mounted in effective communication with both said inlets to permit gas to rise through said tray to contact liquid thereabove and produce a two phase dispersion of gas and liquid supported on said tray, that improvement comprising reducing liquid entrainment by providing an impingement type separator mounted above said tray in the path of vapor passing to the stage above, said separator having its major surfaces tilted at 45° -75° to the horizontal and extending generally parallel to the direction of liquid flow along the tray, reducing the rate of liquid flow along said tray sufficiently to permit carrying out said process without the need for liquid recirculation at said stage, and carrying out said process without said recirculation.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
156 words
In an SO 2 scrubbing process comprising supplying gas to be scrubbed through an orificed tray in a contacting and separating stage of the cross-flow type having gas and scrubbing liquid inlets thereto, wherein said tray is mounted in effective communication with both said inlets to permit gas to rise through said tray to contact liquid thereabove and produce a two phase dispersion of gas and liquid supported on said tray, that improvement comprising reducing liquid entrainment by providing an impingement type separator mounted above said tray in the path of vapor passing to the stage above, said separator having its major surfaces tilted at 45° -75° to the horizontal and extending generally parallel to the direction of liquid flow along the tray, reducing the rate of liquid flow along said tray sufficiently to permit carrying out said process without the need for liquid recirculation at said stage, and carrying out said process without said recirculation.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
The improvement of claim 20 wherein said separator comprises a zigzag arrangement of porous material extending generally across said stage and having its vertices generally parallel to the direction of liquid flow along said tray.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The improvement of claim 21 wherein the major surfaces of said porous material extend at approximately 60° to the horizontal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3653812A
Cited
US3765659A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-01-01 | 1982-07-03 | 1983-01-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-01-01 | 1986-07-03 | 1987-01-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-01-01 | 1990-07-03 | 1991-01-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |