Abstract: A valve accommodated in a separation tray including upper (3) and lower (5) trays, a lock (1) formed between the upper (3) and lower (5) trays. The valve (13) includes a closing element (11) configured such that an orifice (9) in the lower tray (5) is closed by the closing element (11) in a first valve position so that liquid flows from the upper tray (3) into the lock (1), and, in a second valve position, the orifice (9) and an orifice (7) in the upper tray (3) are opened so that gas flows through the lock (1) and liquid on the upper tray (3). The closing element (11) is in the form of a hood including a jacket (23) having orifices (21) positioned in such a way that, in the second valve position, gas flows through the orifices (21) into the liquid on the upper tray (3).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for carrying out a mass-transfer process in a column (1) comprising at least two separating trays (5), wherein each separating tray (5) comprises an upper tray (7) and a lower tray (9), and between the trays (7, 9) a lock (13) is formed, and valves (11) are provided which are designed in such a manner that a gas can flow through the separating tray (5), on interruption of the gas flow liquid flows from the upper tray (7) into the lock (13), and when gas supply is restarted, the liquid drains out of the lock (13), comprising the following steps: (a) flow of a gas exiting through valves (11) in the separating tray (5) through a liquid standing on the upper tray (7), wherein the amount of gas is high enough that no liquid flows back through the valve (11), (b) interruption of the gas supply in such a manner that the liquid runs through the valves (11) into the lock (13), (c) restart of the gas supply, wherein valves (11) in the lower tray (9) open, in such a manner that the liq

Abstract: The invention relates to a valve for carrying out a mass-transfer process in which a gas (13) flows through a liquid (31) standing on an upper tray (21), when the gas supply is interrupted the liquid (31) flows into a lock (17) beneath the tray (21) and, when the gas supply is restarted, the liquid (31) flows out of the lock (17) through a lower tray (19) bordering the lock (17) downward, wherein the valve (1) comprises a closing element (5) which comprises a piston rod (5), an upper valve disk (9) and a lower valve disk (7), and which is conducted in a sleeve (3), wherein the lower valve disk (7), in a first valve position, closes an opening (43) at the lower end of the sleeve (3). The upper valve disk (9) and the lower valve disk (7) are each movably connected to the piston rod (11).