Liquid distributor apparatus for a vapor-liquid contact column

Claim 1

Apparatus for distributing a downflowing liquid uniformly across the packed bed of a vapor-liquid contact column, the apparatus comprises: a distributor unit which includes a plate and several upstanding wall members, the wall members are fastened along one edge to the plate, one upstanding wall member defines the periphery of the plate and the other wall members are positioned crosswise and lengthwise of the plate to define separate, open-top compartments within the distributor unit, a set of drip tubes are installed in each compartment, the drip tubes are defined by upstanding tubular members which extend above and below the plate and are fastened to the plate, and the distributor unit is mounted inside the column, crosswise of the column, and above the packed bed; a parting manifold mounted above the distributor unit, the manifold includes a header conduit, end conduits are joined, in crosswise relation, to opposite ends of the header conduit, a lateral conduit is joined, in crosswise relation, to the header conduit between the branch conduits, the end conduits and lateral conduit are closed at their respective ends, the manifold has a number of outlet ports therein, which are located above and face toward the open-top compartments, and a standpipe conduit is joined, in perpendicular relation, to the header conduit between the end conduits; the apparatus includes a number of gas risers in the plate, as defined by openings located in the plate between certain compartments, and the apparatus further includes an annular gas riser, as defined by an annular space between the upstanding wall member at the periphery of the plate and the inner wall surface of the column; wherein, the downflowing liquid enters the parting manifold through the standpipe conduit, drops through the outlet ports into each compartment of the distributor unit, and flows downwardly through the drip tubes, in a uniform pattern, onto the packed bed.