Patent ID: 7121537

Claim:
Enclosed space or reactor ( 2 ) comprising: at least one packing bed or optionally catalytic particle bed ( 3 ), means of introducing a liquid phase ( 4 ) and means of introducing a gaseous phase ( 5 ), means of circulating the liquid and gaseous phases as ascending co-currents, and at least one distribution system or distributor plate ( 1 , 9 ) comprising a planar plate ( 20 ) occupying the entire cross section of the enclosed space or reactor, hollow tubes ( 21 ), open at each of their ends, said tubes being connected to planar plate ( 20 ) and piercing the latter so as to make possible the circulation of fluids between the upstream and downstream of said plate, at least one orifice ( 22 ) located on the lateral wall of each tube ( 21 ), said means of introducing liquid phase ( 4 ) being placed in enclosed space or reactor ( 2 ) upstream from distributor plate ( 1 , 9 ) and said means of introducing gaseous phase ( 5 ) being placed in enclosed space or reactor ( 2 ) below planar plate ( 20 ), at a level making possible, during operation, the formation of a gas retention space ( 24 ) under plate ( 20 ) and the formation of a liquid/gas interface ( 18 ) located below at least one of said orifices ( 22 ) present on each tube ( 21 ), below the means of introducing gaseous phase ( 5 ) and above the lower end of said tubes ( 21 ).