Patent ID: 9266047
Filing Date: 2016-02-23
CPC Classification: B01D,F01M

Claim Text:
1. A tower having a vertical axis with an upward flow path for heavy oil vapors ascending the tower and a mist eliminator system comprising at least two tiers of mist eliminators at a plurality of vertically spaced levels in the tower, each tier comprising at least one horizontally extensive mist eliminator segment extending over a major portion of the cross-sectional area of the tower to define at least one open vapor flow passage at the level of the tier through which the upward flow of vapor may take place without passing through the at least one mist eliminator segment of the tier, the at least one open vapor flow passage of each tier being laterally displaced from the at least one open vapor flow passage of a vertically spaced tier to define a tortuous flow path for vapors ascending the tower through the open flow passages in the at least two tiers; wherein the at least one mist eliminator segment in each tier allows a portion of the vapors ascending the tower to pass through the at least one mist eliminator segment itself when the at least one mist eliminator segment is in an unfouled condition; the at least one mist eliminator segment comprises structured packings; and the at least one mist eliminator segment comprises: a plurality of spaced-apart, generally aligned, parallel impingement type baffles extending generally across a vapor stream flow direction to define a tortuous vapor flow path for the vapor stream passing between the parallel impingement type baffles.