Patent ID: 8348246

Claim:
A system for distributing a fluid via a packing disposed in a container, the packing configured to have the fluid trickle from a top to a bottom thereof, the system comprising: at least one distributor member including a pressure conduit having at least one nozzle configured to discharge the fluid therethrough; and a distributor channel adjoining the distributor member from below with a width of the distributor channel that does not substantially exceed a diameter of the distributor member such that an overall width of the system, measured in a direction of the diameter of the distributor member, is not substantially enlarged by the width of the distributor channel, the distributor channel defining at least one outlet slot disposed at a lower end of the distributor channel, the at least one outlet slot having a specified width and being configured to discharge the fluid from the distributor channel to the packing via a guide member, the distributor channel being configured to receive the fluid discharged from the at least one nozzle so as to provide a specified level of the fluid in the distributor channel, the distributor channel forming a closed, but ventable chamber above the specified fluid level, the veritable chamber being configured to maintain a pressure corresponding to a pressure in the container in which the packing is disposed.