Patent ID: 6889962

Claim:
A mass transfer column comprising: an external upright shell defining an open internal region within the shell; a feed nozzle surrounding an opening in the shell and extending outwardly from the shell, said feed nozzle having a notional center vertical plane extending along a longitudinal axis of said feed nozzle, said opening having a preselected diameter and defining an inlet passage; a feed device within said open internal region and positioned in relation to said opening in the shell to deflect a vapor or mixed phase stream entering said open internal region through said feed nozzle, said feed device comprising an inner wall spaced inwardly from said shell and defining an annular passageway in a space between said inner wall and said shell, said annular passageway being in fluid flow communication with said inlet passage; a pair of upright deflecting surfaces extending from said inner wall toward said opening, each of said deflecting surfaces having an outer end closer to the shell and an opposed inner end closer to the inner wall of the feed device, the deflecting surfaces being generally symmetrically oriented on opposite sides of the center vertical plane of the feed nozzle with the outer ends of the deflecting surfaces being positioned closer to the center vertical plane than the inner ends of the deflecting surfaces; and at least a first pair of turning vanes positioned on opposite sides of the center vertical plane of the feed nozzle and spaced from said deflecting surfaces in said annular passageway, each said turning vane having a radially outer end and an opposed radially inner end with said outer end being located closer to said center vertical plane than the inner end.