Patent ID: 6997445

Claim:
Device for introducing a liquid-vapor mixture into a radial feed cylindrical fractionating column ( 1 ) comprised of a lower section ( 4 ) and an upper section ( 5 ), the device comprising: means ( 8 ) for separating the liquid-vapor mixture ( 2 ) into two opposite and horizontal flows ( 6 and 7 ); a first distribution horn ( 16 ) in the shape of an arc of circle, with an open upstream extremity ( 18 ) and bottom ( 21 ), arranged along the inner wall of the column and directed downward or arranged horizontally along the inner wall of the column; and a second distribution horn ( 23 ) in the form of an arc of circle, with an open upstream extremity and bottom, arranged along the inner wall of the column and directed downward or arranged horizontally along the inner wall of the column; wherein the first distribution horn ( 16 ) and the second distribution horn ( 23 ) are placed symmetrically in relation to the vertical plane that passes through the axis of the feed conduit ( 3 ); the upstream extremity of the first distribution horn ( 16 ) and the upstream extremity of the second distribution horn ( 23 ) are respectively connected to the means ( 8 ) for separating the flow of the liquid vapor mixture; and the first distribution horn ( 16 ) and the second distribution horn ( 23 ) further comprise a plurality of curved deflector elements ( 19 a , 19 b , 19 c , 59 a , 59 b , 59 c ) mounted between opposite lateral walls of the first and second horns, arranged so that each deflector element deflects a portion of fluid toward the bottom ( 21 , 61 ) of each horn to evenly distribute the fluid inside the column.