Patent ID: 7261284

Claim:
Filled-type column for mass transfer between a liquid phase and a gaseous phase, comprising: an external shell ( 2 ) substantially cylindrical in shape; at least one basket ( 3 a - 3 c ) for containing the filler ( 4 ) disposed inside said shell ( 2 ), coaxially therewith and provided with plane opposite sidewalls ( 19 , 20 ), which are gas-permeable, said at least one basket ( 3 a - 3 c ) being through-penetrated by said phases in countercurrent relationship with said liquid phase in a substantially axial flow direction; respective means ( 5 , 6 ) for feeding said liquid phase and said gaseous phase into said column; respective means ( 7 , 8 ) for extracting said liquid phase and said gaseous phase from said column; first and second free spaces ( 21 , 22 ), located opposite to each other and defined between an inner wall ( 2 a ) of said shell ( 2 ) and said sidewalls ( 19 , 20 ) of the basket ( 3 a - 3 c ), said free spaces having a means ( 19 a, 20 a , 23 ) for causing at least a major portion of said gaseous phase to flow through said at least one basket ( 3 a - 3 c ), from said first free space ( 21 ) to said second free space ( 22 ) or the other way round characterized in that said at least one of said basket sidewalls ( 19 , 20 ) comprises, at a top end of said at least one basket ( 3 a - 3 c ), respectively at a top end of each zone ( 3 a - 3 c ), a gas-impermeable portion ( 19 a , 20 a ) of predetermined length.