Patent ID: 8590339

Claim:
A method of providing uniformity of vapour and liquid phases in two or more streams derived from a mixed vapour and liquid stream comprising the steps of: (a) passing the mixed vapour and liquid stream from a first heat exchanger into a distribution vessel via one or more distribution vessel inlets, the distribution vessel having two or more distribution vessel outlets connected to a second heat exchanger; (b) allowing the liquid part of the mixed stream to collect in a first area in the distribution vessel; (c) allowing the vapour part of the mixed stream to collect in a second area of the distribution vessel; (d) passing the liquid in the first area into the distribution vessel outlets via one or more liquid apertures in each distribution vessel outlet communicating with the first area; and (e) passing the vapour in the second area into the distribution vessel outlets via one or more vapour apertures in each distribution vessel outlet communicating with the second area.