IMPROVED CONTACTING STAGES FOR CO-CURRENT CONTACTING APPARATUSES

摘要

Improved contacting stages for carrying out vapor-liquid contacting are described. Particular aspects are directed to co-current vapor-liquid contacting devices with non-parallel contacting stages that provide an efficient usage of column space for fluid flow and contacting, in order to achieve high capacity, high efficiency, and low pressure drop. The fabrication of such contacting stages is improved using one or more structural enhancements, preferably a combination of enhancements, to achieve easy installation and significantly improved rigidity between the various parts and thereby avoid movement/separation of these parts. This reduces the possibility of fluid leakage across, and consequently vapor and/or liquid bypassing of, the contacting stage.