Patent ID: 8910702

Claim:
An apparatus for vapor-liquid contacting, comprising a vertically oriented column having disposed therein a plurality of condenser tubes, said vertically oriented column defining a central axis extending vertically through a center thereof; an upper section of the vertically oriented column configured for receiving vapor rising upwardly from a lower contacting section of the column; a vapor flow-directing device disposed within the column and having a vapor inlet above at least a co-current contacting section of the tubes and defining a vapor-liquid disengagement volume, wherein the vapor inlet is in fluid communication with the upper section of the column for redirecting at least a portion of the vapor rising in the upper section downwardly through the co-current contacting section of the tubes and wherein the vapor-liquid disengagement volume is below the tubes; a non-condensed vapor outlet external to the column and in communication with the vapor-liquid disengagement volume; a condensed liquid outlet internal to the column and in communication with the vapor-liquid disengagement volume; and a deflector plate below the tubes and within the vapor-liquid disengagement volume, wherein the deflector plate is above the non-condensed vapor outlet and extends horizontally or at an incline, wherein the condenser tubes extend horizontally, and further wherein the condenser tubes cross the central axis of the vertically oriented column, wherein the vapor flow-directing device substantially surrounds the co-current contacting section of the tubes on three sides thereof, while allowing the vapor rising to the upper section of the column to pass upwardly between said vapor flow-directing device and the column along said three sides.