Patent ID: 8191870

Claim:
A cross-flow tray for use in a column to facilitate mass transfer and/or heat exchange between fluid streams in said column, said tray comprising: a generally planar tray deck; an inlet area positioned on said tray deck where liquid is to be introduced onto said tray deck; a downcomer having an inlet opening on said tray deck for removing liquid from said tray deck after it flows in a downstream direction along said tray deck from said inlet area; a plurality of vapor openings in said tray deck for allowing the passage of vapor upwardly through said tray deck through said openings; a plurality of cans positioned on said tray deck and having walls surrounding said vapor openings so that said vapor passing through the tray deck rises within said cans, wherein a first group of said cans is positioned in a first zone on said tray deck and a second group of said cans is positioned in a second zone on said tray deck, said second zone being located in said downstream direction from said first zone; swirlers positioned to impart a swirling motion to said vapor rising within said cans; inlet openings in said walls of said cans for allowing liquid to enter said cans from the tray deck; discharge openings positioned above said inlet openings in said walls of said cans to permit liquid to exit said cans after interacting with said vapor rising with a swirling motion within the cans; and a weir positioned between said first group of said cans in the first zone on said tray deck and said second group of said cans in the second zone on said tray deck.