Multiple-downcomer contacting tray with fluid directing baffles

Claim 1

A vapor-liquid contacting tray having a generally circular circumference and comprising: (a) a disk-shaped vapor-liquid contacting deck having an upper first side and a lower second side, said deck being comprised of a perforated tray material; (b) at least two trough-shaped downcomer means each formed by two opposing sidewalls and two end walls which are shorter than the side walls, with the sidewalls and end walls oriented perpendicular to the plane of the tray, each downcomer having a substantially open inlet located on the first side of the contacting deck and a liquid sealable outlet means located on the second side of the contacting deck; (c) a plurality of liquid flow control baffles extending between opposing side walls of the downcomer means at spaced points along the sidewalls and being at least partially located within the downcomer means; (d) a plurality of fluid flow control baffles which are substantially parallel to said sidewalls and extend away from said contacting deck upper first side beyond said downcomer means inlet, with one of said fluid control baffles being positioned between said sidewalls of each downcomer means; (e) a vapor flow control baffle which is substantially perpendicular to the contacting deck and extends across the first side of the contacting deck at an angle greater than 45 degrees from the downcomer means; and (f) a plurality of bubble-promoting devices located on the contacting deck between the downcomer means.