Abstract: A liquid distributor in the form of a tray or trough network is provided with a plurality of rows of apertures through which liquid descends. A predistributor trough predistributes liquid onto the rows of apertures and is provided with bottom and side openings from which the liquid is distributed onto the plate. The side openings are located proximally with respect to the bottom openings to enhance uniformity of velocity profile of the liquid.

Abstract: A fluid distribution system for a packed absorption tower. The system includes one or more troughs mounted in the tower above the packing. Fluid enters each trough through an inlet in a side wall of the trough for flow to one or more orifices through which the fluid passes to fill the trough. Fluid is directed to the orifices by a conduit defined by the bottom and side walls of the trough and by a partition extending between the side walls above the inlet. Downtubes on each trough extend from inside the trough down through the bottom wall of the trough to a location below the trough. Each downtube has an inlet disposed inside the trough. Fluid passes through the orifices to fill the trough to a level sufficient for fluid to enter the inlets of the downtubes and to flow down the downtubes for distribution on the packing.

Abstract: Packed columns generate fluid flows which must be evenly divided, preferably over a broad range of fluid flow volumes. Runoff tongues are used to divide and distribute such flows. According to the present invention, each runoff tongue (2) is bifurcated in its lower portion to define two dripoff points (5). Mounted parallel to each bifurcated portion is a guide element (6), preferably of woven or perforated material. Each guide element is associated with a particular fluid outlet opening (3) in an end wall (1). An upper portion (6a) of the guide element extends through the opening (3) in end wall (1) into a fluid-containing zone whose bottom is defined by a seal (4). Preferably, at low-fluid-height states (H1), the guide element feeds fluid through the opening (3) by capillary action, while at high-fluid-height states (H2), direct overflow occurs.

Abstract: A horizontal tray (3) is disclosed for use in a normally vertical column (1) for counter-currently contacting gas and liquid, which horizontal tray (3) comprises an upper horizontal plate (6), a lower horizontal plate (7), a liquid supply space (8), a liquid feed pipe (10) opening into the liquid supply space (8), and a vertical tubular contact and separation device (13), which comprises an open-ended tube (15) extending through the horizontal plates (6, 7), a liquid delivery device (22) comprising an upwardly directed liquid delivery opening (24, 39) which is in fluid communication with the liquid supply space (8), swirl imparting means (30) arranged in the open-ended tube (15) above the liquid delivery opening (24), and guide means (31) to direct liquid from the upper end of the open-ended tube (15) onto the upper horizontal plate (6), which horizontal tray further comprises an open-ended downcomer (35) having an inlet arranged above the upper horizontal plate (6) and an outlet arranged below the lower hori

Abstract: A liquid distributor for use in substance and/or heat exchanging tower for effecting uniform liquid distribution. The liquid distributor distributes and supplies a liquid to be treated from an upper part of the inside of the tower to the whole area of the tower through distributing tubes. The distributing tubes are provided along the lateral axis of the tower, and the tubes have at least one nozzle hole provided on the upper side thereof. A sheet-like material is fixed on the surface of the distributing tube at a position lower than the nozzle hole in such a manner that the sheet-like material contacts the surface of the distributing tube, extends in the axial direction of the distributing tube and is spaced apart from the distributing tube at the lower end of the sheet-like material. The sheet-like material has zigzag notches formed on the lower end thereof.

Abstract: A liquid distributor tray in heat exchange equipment, mass exchange equipment or reactors having roughly horizontal liquid distributor channels disposed in the tray, which channels, via openings, deliver the liquid downwards to fingers from which the liquid flows off and/or drips off. Below the channel base one pot or a plurality of pots are located which receive the liquid leaving the channel. The fingers, which are bent outwards, are attached or formed on at the lower edge of the pot wall. Openings are located above the fingers in the pot wall through which the liquid passes outwardly and flows down the outer wall of the pot to the fingers.

Abstract: An improved liquid flow distributor assembly for a process column of the type wherein the distributor is positioned above a packing section for the distribution of liquid downwardly therethrough. The improvement comprises a plurality of distributor troughs constructed with a series of internal distributor channels having stilling plates depending therefrom. Each channel is constructed of a generally U-shaped cross section, aligned with and affixed to the distributor trough for providing primary liquid flow to intermediate regions thereof. In this manner, liquid gradients between opposite ends of the troughs are eliminated and a uniform quiescent liquid level is maintained.

Abstract: A deaerator tray in the form of a horizontally elongated trough for receiving a quantity of liquid to be deaerated. The trough has a flat bottom having a pair of spaced, elongated sides having upper liquid overflow edges. Guide structure is provided for directing the flow of liquid overflowing from the edges, the guide structure includes a pair of flat elongated inclined wall members each directly connected to a respective one of the sides below the upper liquid overflow edges along the length thereof. The wall members extend outwardly away from each other and downwardly away from the respective upper liquid overflow edges. Each wall member is inclined relative to the vertical and terminates in a lower edge to enhance deaeration of the liquid as the latter is guided down the wall members and falls from the lower edge.

Abstract: A tray stack for a boiler feedwater deaerator is provided with a plurality of horizontally spaced troughs arranged in vertically spaced and staggered tiers. Each of the troughs has a generally V-shaped bottom and a pair of outwardly-extending, inclined wall members having notched lower edges. The vertical projected dimension of the inclined wall members is less than the overall depth of the trough such that the distance of travel encountered by the feedwater dropping from the lower edge of the wall members to the next adjacent, underlying trough is maximized, thereby increasing the interactive area of contact between the cascading water and uprising flow of steam. The lower edge of each wall member is preferably notched to enhance dispersion of the falling water, and the wall members also are disposed to positively guide the falling water into the adjacent underlying trough without bypassing the same.

Abstract: A mechanical draft crossflow cooling tower is provided with a novel hot water distribution structure which overlies a fill assembly. The distribution structure includes a basin which extends horizontally along the length of the fill assembly and the basin bottom is provided with a plurality of metering nozzles for directing the flow evenly across the top face of the fill assembly. Additionally, a flume is located within the confines of the basin and extends horizontally along the length of the latter in spaced disposition from the basin bottom. The flume has opposed sidewalls which are operable as weirs such that the water is evenly directed to all areas of the basin. As such, the static head on each of the nozzles is equivalent throughout the length of the basin so that the hot water is evenly directed toward all areas of the fill assembly regardless of the flow rate of the water.

Abstract: An evaporative cooler is disclosed which incorporates a media having a plurality of generally plate-like structures. The plates include a plurality of fins having slot-like depressions dimensioned thin enough to exhibit capillarity, yet thick enough to exhibit good heat transfer characteristics when filled with chilled water. The capillary slots are arranged to effect distribution of the water over substantially the entire surface of the plates forming the media.

Abstract: A distributor stage for an exchange column utilizes a plurality of tubes having openings spaced apart on upper sides thereof and leading to respective troughs which are formed on the upper sides of the tubes. The liquid is spread from the troughs by capillary channels which carry the liquid through slits in the walls of the troughs onto tongues spreading below the tubes.

Abstract: An evaporative cooler is disclosed which incorporates a media having a plurality of generally plate-like structures. The plates include a plurality of fins having slot-like depressions dimensioned thin enough to exhibit capillarity, yet thick enough to exhibit good heat transfer characteristics when filled with chilled water. The capillary slots are arranged to effect distribution of the water over substantially the entire surface of the plates forming the media. In one embodiment, the slot-like depressions of adjoining plates are alternately spaced, and aligning projections are provided to align adjoining plates with respect to each other.

Abstract: A water wall spray booth having ducts in which water can be entrained and carried to an upper reservoir characterized in that there is a transverse deflector member whereby the air and water from each of the ducts is deflected forwardly to the upper reservoir from which it passes over the water wall.

Abstract: A direct contact condenser is arranged to establish sequential steam flows of downward, lateral, and tortuous but collectively upward directions in a housing. Cooling liquid fed to the condenser is introduced to first overflow means for temporarily accumulating cooling liquid and for allowing excess accumulated cooling liquid to overflow. Second overflow means is provided for temporarily accumulating the cooling liquid supplied from the first overflow means, for allowing the cooling liquid to fall in multiple streams into the collectively upward steam flow zone to cause direct heat exchange between the falling cooling liquid and the steam, and for causing excess cooling water accumulated by the second overflow means to overflow. The cooling liquid overflowing from the second overflow means is supplied to the downward stream flow to cause direct heat exchange between the cooling liquid and the steam when excess accumulated cooling liquid overflows from the second overflow means.

Abstract: A paint spraying booth has a back wall over which a water curtain flows to collect sprayed paint, a tank to receive the water curtain, vertical entrainment ducts disposed above the rear part of the tank, means for generating a flow of air through said ducts to lift water from the tank for the formation of the water curtain, a vertically-disposed wall separating the front and rear parts of the tank and having one or more transfer openings below the water surface, and baffle plates in the front part of the tank causing paint-laden water from the curtain to flow to a remote zone before returning to the transfer opening in order to minimize the quantity of paint passing into the rear part of the tank. A surface-removal device, preferably with a venturi unit, is arranged in front of the transfer opening to remove floating paint and pass it back to the baffled region for further dispersal.

Abstract: A low flow liquid distributor and redistributor for a liquid/gas contact tower comprises: one or more receptacles each extending over a cross sectional area of the tower chamber and adapted to receive a source of liquid supplied either directly thereto or indirectly from the source via liquid feed splitter means that divides and dispenses the liquid received to each receptacle. Each receptacle has at least one side wall including one or more metering weirs dividing the liquid flow into one or more streams directed against a liquid distribution drip plate situated relatively close to the sidewall of the receptacles.

Abstract: A baffle is mounted in spaced coextending relationship with the water outlet slots formed in the water distribution troughs of the cooler pad assemblies of an evaporative cooler to block moisture entrainment which otherwise occurs as a result of high velocity air entering the interior of the evaporative cooler trough through the water outlet slots of the troughs.

Abstract: A wet scrubbing device having a transversely extending trough mounted in a vertically extending scrubbing tower with means to add a scrubbing solution to the trough and means to pressurize the fluid in the trough forcing the scrubbing solution out of the trough in spray or sheet form.

Abstract: Apparatus for purifying the air laden with paint particles for use in a paint spray booth, comprises a vertical duct having a mixing chamber at one end. The chamber has a horizontal wall formed with one or more straight or curved slots at which a spray or washing liquid and the air stream are directed to atomize the washing liquid. An upright guide structure in the mixing chamber defines a narrow passage or passages in which the impurities are removed from the air stream by the atomized liquid.

Abstract: A low flow liquid distributor for liquid/gas contact apparatus having a liquid feed splitter dividing the flow into a plurality of streams, an array of troughs extending across the cross sectional area of the contact apparatus, below the splitter, collects the plurality of streams and further divides the flow into a greater number of streams. A shallow pan situated under each of the troughs collects the streams and has upturned sides with drain openings extending upwardly from at least the junction with a downwardly sloping bottom of the pan of greater number than the streams deposited in the pan whereby low rates of liquid flow are obtainable and uniformly distributed onto a bed of tower packing for contact with a gas flowing therethrough.