IP Library Granted Patent US 8,888,077
Granted Patent B1
US 8,888,077 · App. 13/564,881 · Granted Nov 18, 2014

Liquid distributor

Inventors: Ian G. Buttridge (Garland, TX); Soo Woong Kim (Flower Mound, TX); Gil Jong Kim (Seoul, KR); Michael J. Binkley (Glenn Heights, TX)
Assignee: GTC Technology US LLC
B01D3/008B01D3/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,888,077
App. No.
13/564,881
Granted
Nov 18, 2014
Kind
B1
Abstract

A liquid flow distributor for positioning above one or more packing sections in a packed exchange tower includes a plurality of troughs. At least one trough in the plurality of troughs has along a side thereto a deflecting member. The deflecting member is angulated to generally follow a shape of the at least one trough. A diffuser side of the deflecting member is positioned to deposit the liquid into a discharge region. A deflector side of the deflecting member is positioned for deflecting ascending vapor away from the discharge region.

Claims (29)

1. A packed exchange tower, the packed exchange tower being of a type wherein vapor is injected therein for ascension therethrough and liquid is dispersed therethrough for downward flow, the packed exchange tower comprising:

one or more packing sections disposed in the tower for facilitating the interaction of vapor and liquid passing in a counter-flow therethrough;

one or more liquid flow distributors for positioning above the one or more packing sections for even distribution of the liquid downwardly therethrough, the one or more liquid flow distributors including:

a plurality of troughs for dispersing the liquid thereacross, at least one trough of the plurality of troughs being configured for dispersing the liquid in a single-deflecting-member configuration, the at least one trough having along a first side thereto a single deflecting member, the single deflecting member being used in conjunction therewith for maximizing efficiency of vapor-liquid interaction;

a diffuser plate extending from the single deflecting member, the single deflecting member discharging the liquid against the diffuser plate for uniformly distributing the liquid across the plurality of packing sections, the diffuser plate extending below the single deflecting member;

the single deflecting member having a deflector side facing outwardly of the at least one trough and a diffuser side facing the at least one trough, the single deflecting member being angulated to generally follow a shape of the at least one trough;

the deflector side of the single deflecting member being positioned for deflecting ascending vapor away from the downward flow of the liquid on the diffuser side; and

wherein the single deflecting member extends along a length of the selected side of the at least one trough and is constructed in a generally reverse L-shaped configuration such that a lower region thereof is generally perpendicular to and spaced from the diffuser plate.

2. The packed exchange tower of claim 1 , wherein the diffuser plate is disposed generally perpendicularly to a bottom region of the at least one trough.

3. The packed exchange tower of claim 1 , wherein the diffuser plate is positioned generally beneath a side of the at least one trough.

4. The packed exchange tower of claim 1 , wherein the diffuser plate is positioned generally centrally beneath the at least one trough relative to a horizontal plane.

5. A packed exchange tower, the packed exchange tower being of a type wherein vapor is injected therein for ascension therethrough and liquid is dispersed therethrough for downward flow, the packed exchange tower comprising:

one or more packing sections disposed in the tower for facilitating the interaction of vapor and liquid passing in a counter-flow therethrough;

one or more liquid flow distributors for positioning above the one or more packing sections for even distribution of the liquid downwardly therethrough, the one or more liquid flow distributors including:

a plurality of troughs for dispersing the liquid thereacross, at least one trough of the plurality of troughs having a shape including:

a curvilinear formation on a first side of a bottom region thereof; and

an angulated formation on a second side of the bottom region thereof, the second side being opposite the at least one trough to the first side;

a deflecting member along a selected side of the at least one trough for use in conjunction with the at least one trough for maximizing efficiency of vapor-liquid interaction;

the deflecting member having a deflector side facing outwardly of the at least one trough and a diffuser side facing the at least one trough, the deflecting member being angulated to generally follow the shape of the at least one trough;

the deflector side of the deflecting member being positioned for deflecting ascending vapor away from downward flow of the liquid on the diffuser side; and

wherein the deflecting member extends along a length of the selected side of the at least one trough and is constructed in a generally reverse L-shaped configuration such that a lower region thereof is generally perpendicular to and spaced from the diffuser plate.

6. The packed exchange tower of claim 5 , wherein the one or more liquid flow distributors further include:

a diffuser plate disposed beneath the at least one trough; and

the deflecting member being adapted to discharge the liquid against the diffuser plate for uniformly distributing the liquid across the plurality of packing sections.

7. The packed exchange tower of claim 6 , wherein the selected side is the first side of the at least one trough.

8. The packed exchange tower of claim 7 , wherein the diffuser plate extends from the bottom region of the at least one trough.

9. The packed exchange tower of claim 6 , wherein the selected side is the second side of the at least one trough.

10. The packed exchange tower of claim 9 , wherein the diffuser plate extends from the bottom region of the at least one trough and is spaced from a lower region of the deflecting member.

11. The packed exchange tower of claim 10 , wherein a lower region of the deflecting member is generally perpendicular to the diffuser plate.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 26, 2021
From: SULZER GTC TECHNOLOGY US INC.
To: SULZER MANAGEMENT AG
Reel/Frame 056046/0676 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 15, 2021
From: GTC TECHNOLOGY US, LLC
To: SULZER GTC TECHNOLOGY US INC.
Reel/Frame 055934/0098 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 25, 2012
From: BUTTRIDGE, IAN G.; KIM, SOOWOONG; KIM, GIL JONG; BINKLEY, MICHAEL J.
To: GTC TECHNOLOGY US LLC
Reel/Frame 029188/0256 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 12418189 · Apr 3, 2009
Provisional Application 61042519 · Apr 4, 2008
Provisional Application 61201121 · Dec 5, 2008