Abstract: The present invention relates to a distributor tray (1) comprising chimneys (2) for the passage of gas and means for the passage of liquid. The distributor tray furthermore has at least one casing (10) for distributing the gas. The casing (10) is arranged around a plurality of chimneys (2), and has gas remixing means and gas redistribution means.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gas-redirecting device presenting an upper plane and a plurality of gas-redirecting tubes comprising an inlet end and an outlet end. For each gas-redirecting tube, the orthogonal projections of the inlet end and the outlet end onto the upper plane have an over-lapping area of at most 50% of the total area of the upper plane covered by the orthogonal projections. Also provided is a liquid-gas contacting column comprising a gas-redirecting device, a floating support comprising a liquid-gas contacting column, at least two packed beds and a method for improving the efficiency of a liquid-gas contacting column which is based on redirecting the gas from a wetted zone of a lower packed bed to a wetted zone of the higher packed bed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for the removal of aromatic hydrocarbons from a lean acid gas containing less than 20 mol.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a column (CO) for the exchange of material and, if appropriate, heat between a gas and a liquid. The exchange column (CO) comprises at least one collector tray and a system for distributing liquid arranged between two packing beds (7), and means for recirculating the liquid (8). The means for recirculating the liquid (8) connect a zone situated below the packing bed (7) to a zone situated above the distributor tray.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid-gas contacting unit comprising a column, at least a lower packed bed and a higher packed bed positioned higher than the lower packed bed inside the column, a gas-tight liquid collecting and redistributing device disposed between the lower and the higher packed bed inside the column and an external pipe outside the column, the external pipe comprising an inlet end, an outlet end and a peripheral wall between the inlet end and the outlet end; the inlet end being positioned between the lower pack bed and the gas-tight liquid collecting and redistributing device and the outlet end being positioned between the higher pack bed and the gas-tight liquid collecting and redistributing device. The present invention also relates to a method for improving the efficiency of a liquid-gas contacting unit.

Abstract: Method of decarbonating a hydrocarbon gas, a natural gas for example, by washing with a solvent. Said gas is contacted with an absorbent solution so as to obtain a CO2-depleted gas and a CO2-laden absorbent solution. The CO2-laden absorbent solution is then heated and expanded at a predetermined pressure and temperature so as to release a hydrocarbon-containing gaseous fraction and to obtain a hydrocarbon-depleted absorbent solution, said pressure and temperature being so selected that said gaseous fraction comprises at least 50% of the hydrocarbons contained in said CO2-laden absorbent solution and at most 35% of the CO2 contained in said CO2-laden absorbent solution. Finally, the hydrocarbon-depleted absorbent solution is thermally regenerated so as to release a CO2-rich gaseous effluent and to obtain a regenerated absorbent solution.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gas-redirecting device presenting an upper plane and a plurality of gas-redirecting tubes comprising an inlet end and an outlet end. For each gas-redirecting tube, the orthogonal projections of the inlet end and the outlet end onto the upper plane have an over-lapping area of at most 50% of the total area of the upper plane covered by the orthogonal projections. Also provided is a liquid-gas contacting column comprising a gas-redirecting device, a floating support comprising a liquid-gas contacting column, at least two packed beds and a method for improving the efficiency of a liquid-gas contacting column which is based on redirecting the gas from a wetted zone of a lower packed bed to a wetted zone of the higher packed bed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a column for exchanging material and, if appropriate, heat between a gas and a liquid. The column comprises at least one collector tray 1 and a liquid distribution system 5, 6 arranged between two packed beds 7, and gas and liquid separation means 8. The present invention proposes arranging gas and liquid separation means 8 between the collector tray 4 and the liquid distribution means 5, 6.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a column for exchanging heat and/or material between a gas and a liquid. The column comprises at least one collector tray (1), at least one packed bed, and mixing means for a gas flow (7, 8). According to the invention, the mixing means for a gas flow are arranged below the collector tray (1) and above the packing.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for the removal of aromatic hydrocarbons from a lean acid gas containing less than 20 mol.

Abstract: Method of decarbonating a hydrocarbon gas, a natural gas for example, by washing with a solvent. Said gas is contacted with an absorbent solution so as to obtain a CO2-depleted gas and a CO2-laden absorbent solution. The CO2-laden absorbent solution is then heated and expanded at a predetermined pressure and temperature so as to release a hydrocarbon-containing gaseous fraction and to obtain a hydrocarbon-depleted absorbent solution, said pressure and temperature being so selected that said gaseous fraction comprises at least 50% of the hydrocarbons contained in said CO2-laden absorbent solution and at most 35% of the CO2 contained in said CO2-laden absorbent solution. Finally, the hydrocarbon-depleted absorbent solution is thermally regenerated so as to release a CO2-rich gaseous effluent and to obtain a regenerated absorbent solution.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of extracting the hydrogen sulfide contained in a gas comprising aromatic hydrocarbons, wherein the following stages are carried out: a) contacting said gas with an absorbent solution so as to obtain a gas depleted in hydrogen sulfide and an absorbent solution laden with hydrogen sulfide, b) heating and expanding the hydrogen sulfide-laden absorbent solution to a predetermined temperature and pressure so as to release a gaseous fraction comprising aromatic hydrocarbons and to obtain an absorbent solution depleted in aromatic hydrocarbons, said temperature and pressure being so selected that said gaseous fraction comprises at least 50% of the aromatic hydrocarbons and at most 35% hydrogen sulfide contained in said hydrogen sulfide-laden absorbent solution, c) thermally regenerating the absorbent solution depleted in aromatic hydrocarbon compounds so as to release a hydrogen sulfide-rich gaseous effluent and to obtain a regenerated absorbent solution.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of extracting the hydrogen sulfide contained in a gas comprising aromatic hydrocarbons, wherein the following stages are carried out: a) contacting said gas with an absorbent solution so as to obtain a gas depleted in hydrogen sulfide and an absorbent solution laden with hydrogen sulfide, b) heating and expanding the hydrogen sulfide-laden absorbent solution to a predetermined temperature and pressure so as to release a gaseous fraction comprising aromatic hydrocarbons and to obtain an absorbent solution depleted in aromatic hydrocarbons, said temperature and pressure being so selected that said gaseous fraction comprises at least 50% of the aromatic hydrocarbons and at most 35% hydrogen sulfide contained in said hydrogen sulfide-laden absorbent solution, c) thermally regenerating the absorbent solution depleted in aromatic hydrocarbon compounds so as to release a hydrogen sulfide-rich gaseous effluent and to obtain a regenerated absorbent solution.