Brian A Albert

US Patent:

6889961, May 10, 2005

Filed:

Apr 3, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/406955

Inventors:

Dana G. Laird - Prescott WI, US
Brian D. Albert - Fairfax VA, US
Carol A. Schnepper - Tulsa OK, US
Christoph Ender - Wichita KS, US

Assignee:

Koch-Glitsch, LP - Wichita KS

International Classification:

B01F003/04

US Classification:

261 792, 261 96, 261 97

Abstract:

Anti-swirl baffles are provided in a mass transfer column to reduce the swirling motion of a vapor or mixed phase feed stream introduced into the column. The column is of the type having an upper region of a preselected diameter, a lower region of reduced diameter, and an intermediate transition region that has a diameter that transitions from the preselected diameter of the upper region to the reduced diameter of the lower region. The column includes a vapor or mixed phase feed nozzle and a feed device such as a vapor horn located at least partially within the upper region for delivering the vapor or mixed phase feed stream into the column. The anti-swirl baffles are positioned in the intermediate transition region of the column to disrupt the swirling motion of the vapor or mixed phase feed stream as portions of it descend from the feed device into the transition region of the column. An annular shield positioned in the transition region and spaced inwardly of the column shell defines a liquid flow passage that is shielded from the swirling motion of the vapor or mixed phase feed stream to reduce liquid entrainment.