Patent ID: 8517352

Claim:
A packed exchange tower, the packed exchange tower being of a type wherein vapor is injected therein for ascension therethrough and liquid is dispersed therethrough for downward flow, the packed exchange tower comprising: one or more packing sections disposed in the tower for facilitating interaction of vapor and liquid passing in a counter-flow therethrough; one or more liquid flow distributors for positioning above the one or more packing sections for even distribution of liquid downwardly therethrough, the one or more liquid flow distributors including: a plurality of troughs for dispersing the liquid thereacross, at least one trough of the plurality of troughs having along a first side thereto a first deflecting member, the first deflecting member being used in conjunction therewith for maximizing efficiency of vapor-liquid interaction; a diffuser plate extending from a bottom region of the at least one trough, the diffuser plate extending below the first deflecting member; the first deflecting member having a deflector side facing outwardly of the at least one trough and a diffuser side facing the at least one trough, the first deflecting member being angulated to generally follow a shape of the at least one trough; the diffuser side of the first deflecting member being positioned to deposit the liquid into a discharge region therebeneath and above the one or more packing sections, the discharge region being accessible to ascending vapor from a side generally beneath the first side of the at least one trough; and the deflector side of the first deflecting member being positioned for deflecting at least some of the ascending vapor ingressing on the side generally beneath the first side of the at least one trough away from the discharge region.