Patent ID: 7014177

Claim:
Filled-type column for mass transfer between a liquid phase and a gaseous phase, comprising: an external shell ( 2 ), substantially cylindrical in shape; a plurality of annular baskets ( 3 a – 3 e ) for containing the filler ( 4 ) which are disposed coaxially within said shell ( 2 ) and includes opposite respectively inner and outer gas-permeable cylindrical walls ( 9 , 10 ), each basket ( 3 a – 3 e ) being through-penetrated by said liquid phase in a substantially axial flow direction; a first free space ( 11 ) defined between an inner wall ( 2 a ) of the shell ( 2 ) and said outer wall ( 10 ) of the basket ( 3 a – 3 e ); a second free space ( 12 ) defined inwardly of said inner wall ( 9 ) of the basket ( 3 a – 3 e ); respective means ( 5 , 6 ) for feeding said liquid phase and said gaseous phase into said column; means ( 9 a , 10 a , 14 , 15 ) for causing at least a major portion of said gaseous phase to flow through each basket ( 3 a – 3 e ), from said first free space ( 11 ) to said second free space ( 12 ), or the other way round, wherein a portion ( 9 a , 10 a ) of said basket outlet wall ( 10 ) and/or said basket inner wall ( 9 ), at the top end of each basket ( 3 a – 3 e ), is gas-impermeable; respective means ( 7 , 8 ) for extracting said liquid phase and said gaseous phase from said column.