Patent ID: 7104529
Filing Date: 2006-09-12
Classification: B01D

Abstract:
1. A feed device for interrupting and redirecting the momentum of a vapor or mixed phase feed stream entering an elongated, generally upright mass transfer and/or heat exchange column, said device comprising: an elongated, generally arcuate wall arranged to be located within an internal region of said column, said arcuate wall being disposed to extend around a longitudinal axis of said column and including an inlet area positioned for being contacted by said stream and causing said stream to flow along an outer surface of said arcuate wall and generally around said axis; and a plurality of spaced apart, elongated vanes extending outwardly from said outer surface of the arcuate wall, said vanes being vertically staggered at increasing heights in the direction of flow of said stream around said axis, wherein one of said vanes comprises a primary vane having an inner end located adjacent said outer surface and an outer end disposed in spaced relationship relative to said outer surface, said primary vane being disposed at a tangential angle relative to the direction of flow of said stream such that the inner end of the primary vane is further downstream than the outer end thereof whereby any portion of the stream impinging on the primary vane is redirected toward said outer surface of the arcuate wall, said tangential angle of said primary vane being different than a tangential angle of another one of said vanes.