Column for treating gases

Claim 1

A column for treating gases by separating liquid and/or solid contaminants from the gases and then washing the gases with a washing liquid, wherein the presence of the contaminants would adversely affect the washing, comprising a separation space within the column arranged with respect to a washing space to prevent the washing liquid from contacting the contaminants within the separation space, means for introducing gases and contaminants essentially horizontally into the separation space, a plurality of fixed curved vanes arranged in a spaced-apart essentially horizontally extending series with each succeeding vane being further away from the means for introduction of gases and contaminants and having its uppermost edge higher than the uppermost edge of the preceding vane and each uppermost edge being directed toward the means for introduction of gases and contaminants and each lowermost edge of each vane being directed downwardly, so that each of the vanes is operative to intercept and deflect downwardly a part of the gases and contaminants and thereby separate a part of the contaminants from the gases, a plurality of open ended tubular elements arranged in openings in a tray in an upper end of the separation space, a vane assembly arranged inside each tubular element and operative to impart a swirling motion to separate the remaining contaminants from the gases passing therethrough, a plurality of tubes each having its lower end arranged within each of said tubular elements and substantially coaxially arranged with each vane assembly therein and positioned and arranged to pass the gases substantially free of contaminants to the washing space, means for washing the gases with the washing liquid, means for preventing the washing liquid from flowing into the contaminant separation space of the column and means for collecting and discharging the washing liquid substantially free of contact with the contaminants.