Patent ID: 7255777

Claim:
In the process of operating a distillation column containing a plurality of trays and downcomers associated therewith wherein the improvement comprises positioning on said trays a packing comprising a porous container containing a particulate material intimately associated with a spacing component, said spacing component being comprised of at least 70 volume % up to about 95 volume % open space, said packing being present in said distillation column in an amount to provide height equivalent to theoretical plates (HETP) of less than the HETP of said trays in the absence of said packing and an equivalent clear liquid level in a downcomer associated with a tray must balance the vapor flow pressure drop as follows: h dc −h da =h d +2 h L where h dc =head of froth in the downcomer, equivalent clear liquid, h da =pressure loss for liquid flow under a downcomer baffle, h d =pressure loss for flow through one tray, and h L =pressure loss for the two-phase flow through said packing.