Patent ID: 8123843

Claim:
An apparatus consisting of two absorbing units, wherein: (a) a first co-current absorbing unit comprising: (i) a first packed bed, which is in selective fluid communication with a source of a first absorbing liquid; (ii) a first sealed housing, which contains the first packed bed; (iii) a rich gas inlet, which traverses the first sealed housing and is in fluid communication with the first packed bed and is in selective fluid communication with a source of a reactive gas; and (iv) an unabsorbed gas outlet, which traverses the first sealed housing and is in fluid communication with the first packed bed; (b) a second countercurrent absorbing unit comprising: (i) a second packed bed; (ii) a second sealed housing, which contains the second packed bed; (iii) an unabsorbed gas inlet, which traverses the second sealed housing and is in fluid communication with the unabsorbed gas outlet and the second packed bed; (iv) a clean gas outlet, which traverses the second sealed housing and is in fluid communication with the second packed bed and is in selective fluid communication with earth's atmosphere; (v) a second absorbing liquid inlet, which traverses the second sealed housing and is in fluid communication with the second packed bed and is in selective fluid communication with a source of a second absorbing liquid; and (vi) a second absorbing liquid outlet, which traverses the second sealed housing and is in fluid communication with the second packed bed and the first absorbing liquid inlet, or is in fluid communication with the second packed bed and is in selective fluid communication with an absorbing liquid reservoir or a waste liquid conduit; (c) a first absorbing liquid reservoir comprising: (i) a first sealed tank; (ii) a first optionally-valved absorbing liquid outlet, which traverses the first sealed tank and is in fluid communication with the first absorbing liquid inlet; and (iii) a first pressure-adjusting gas inlet, which traverses the first sealed tank and is in selective fluid communication with a first pressure-adjusting gas source; and (d) a first liquid transferring means, which is in fluid communication with the first optionally-valved absorbing liquid outlet and the first absorbing liquid inlet; wherein, optionally, the first and second sealed housings are in direct communication with each other and comprise one contiguous housing comprised of the first and second sealed housings wherein the first co-current absorbing unit is located serially with and is followed by the second countercurrent absorbing unit.