Abstract: The present invention relates to a distributor for distributing a liquid in an exchange column. The distributor comprises at least one predistributor means positioned to receive a liquid feed and a plurality of distributor means having substantially straight longitudinal side walls and open top portions. The interior and exterior of the longitudinal side walls of the predistributor means are covered with a wettable, open-pore material. In operation the liquid feed flows from the predistributor means into the interior of the distributor means, through the open-pore material, exiting this open-pore material on the exterior of the distributor means. In this manner an improved, even distribution of the liquid feed within the exchange column is obtained.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuously separating sulfur from an aqueous sulfur suspension which is heated above the melting point of sulfur. The apparatus comprises a pressure vessel having heating and stirring devices in its upper part, the lower part of the vessel serving as a settling tank where sulfur is precipitated out of the aqueous solution and withdrawn through an outlet in the bottom of the vessel. Inclined separator plates extend within an outer annular chamber formed between the vessel and heating device. Intermediate the upper and lower parts of the vessel is a substantially horizontal, shallow conical partition which has apertures or slots therein to permit the suspension to pass from the upper part to the lower part. A steam-heated jacket surrounds the vessel. Pressure sensing devices are utilized to maintain the level of the water in the top part and the boundary surface between the water phase and the sulfur phase in the bottom part at desired heights.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuously separating sulfur from an aqueous sulfur suspension which is heated above the melting point of sulfur. The apparatus comprises a pressure vessel having heating and stirring means in its upper part, the lower part of the vessel serving as a settling tank where sulfur is precipitated out of the aqueous solution and withdrawn through an outlet in the bottom of the vessel. Intermediate the upper and lower parts of the vessel is a substantially horizontal, shallow conical partition which has apertures or slots therein to permit the suspension to pass from the upper part to the lower part. A steam-heated jacket surrounds the vessel; while pressure sensing devices are utilized to maintain the level of the water in the top part and the boundary surface between the water phase and the sulfur phase in the bottom part at desired heights.

Abstract: Hot gases containing naphthalene and tar together with the possible inclusion of solids are contacted in a spray tower with water to cool the gases. A naphthalene extraction agent, such as tar, is vigorously admixed with water withdrawn from the spray tower. The admixture is separated in a settling tank from which water is obtained and recycled to the spray tower for cooling further quantities of gases. Solids, gas condensate and tar enriched with naphthalene are separately removed from the settling tank.

Abstract: Flushing liquor from a gas main of a coke oven is fed into a preliminary gravity separator to provide an aqueous liquid phase substantially free of tar and solids for reuse as flushing liquid in the gas main. A tar phase obtained from the preliminary gravity separator is fed into a circuit including a centrifuge for three-phase clarification and separation. The circulation in the circuit being at quantities greater than the quantities of the tar phase introduced per unit of time from the gravity separator to obtain a tar surplus which is substantially free of aqueous liquid and thick tar. The tar surplus is removed from the circuit by feeding clean tar from the centrifuge into an overflow tank from where clean tar is reintroduced into the circuit and clean tar is returned to the preliminary gravity separator in controlled response to the tar level therein.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the regeneration of washing oil which has been spent to recover naphthalene and/or benzol from coke oven gas. The spent washing oil is stripped by steam in a bubble column arranged as an integral part of a single main column that includes first, second and third exchange column sections disposed in a superimposed relation one above the other to receive the stripped vapors from the bubble column. The first exchange column section is fed with a mixture of toluene, xylene and naphthalene as a reflux, the second exchange column section is fed with water as the reflux and the third exchange column section is fed with benzol as the reflux. The head product from the column is condensed and passed through a first-phase separator to obtain a substantially anhydrous benzol fraction and a water fraction. These fractions are separately used as a reflux for the second and third exchange column sections.