Abstract: Disclosed are an inlet distributor device and its use in a separation vessel for separating liquid and gas. The separation vessel also includes a mist elimination device for removing vapor droplets. The inlet distributor device includes a distributor body of a rigid material having a partially enclosed three-dimensional shape, a distributor inlet adapted to be fitted to the vessel inlet such that the distributor body is positioned internally within the vessel, and a mesh material within the volume of the distributor body. Also disclosed is a method for designing the inlet distributor device. A mesh file representing the separation vessel, the mist elimination device and the inlet distributor device is generated using estimated design parameters of the separation vessel and estimated coordinates defining the distributor body.

Abstract: A gas flow directing device to provide uniform gas flow into or out of a vessel having molecular sieve material contained therein and methods for treating a gas streams in the vessel using the gas flow directing device are described. The gas flow directing device includes a truncated cone having a cone base having an opening centered therein and a truncated top. The truncated cone further includes a gas permeable wall portion between the cone base and the truncated top having open sides to provide fluid communication between the opening in the cone base and space surrounding the gas permeable wall portion.