Patent ID: 7964153
Filing Date: 2011-06-21
Classification: B01D,B01J,C10G

Abstract:
1. A downcomer for use in an upflow reactor for conducting a downward flow of a multi-phase mixture including gas bubbles, comprising: a transport section; a degassing section disposed at an upper end of the transport section, the degassing section including a pan having a generally frusto-conical upper surface, the pan having a plurality of circumferentially spaced inlets for admitting a flow of a multi-phase mixture, each inlet including a duct attached to the upper surface of the pan extending upward from the inlet and not extending through the pan, oriented to introduce the inflowing mixture onto the upper surface generally tangentially and whereupon the mixture flows in a downward helical direction along the upper surface, causing denser components to be urged outwardly away from a center axis of the surface, and less dense components to migrate inwardly toward the center axis where smaller gas bubbles coalesce into larger bubbles; and a plurality of baffles disposed on the upper surface of the pan downstream of the inlet and arranged to guide the flow of the multi-phase mixture in a generally helical direction; and wherein each inlet also includes a through-hole extending through the pan and a respective duct arranged around the respective through-hole.