GB584876A - Improved apparatus for the countercurrent treatment of liquids - Google Patents

Abstract

<PICT:0584876/III/1> Countercurrent treatment of immiscible liquids of different gravities and forming two phases is effected in a vertical tower divided into sections by horizontal plates 20, each plate being provided with risers 21 and downcomers 22 so arranged that each downcomer and each riser on one plate is vertically above a corresponding riser and a corresponding downcomer respectively on the plate below. Caps 24 having serrated edges act as phase dispersers and are positioned at the ends of the risers when the lighter liquid phase is to be dispersed and beneath the plates at the ends of the downcomers when the heavier liquid phase is to be dispersed. The downcomers and risers are positioned respectively on the plates upon interlacing circles or at the corners of interlacing triangles, squares or other polygonal figures. When the heavier liquid is the continuous phase the lighter liquid is introduced at the botom of the tower, flows upwardly through the risers and is dispersed by the caps into streams of droplets which rise to the plate above and in so doing pass through the downflowing streams of heavier liquid. The heavier liquid flowing through a given downcomer is approximately equally distributed among four downcomers on the plate below and each downcomer is supplied with liquid from four downcomers on the plate above. Redistribution of the lighter liquid from plate to plate takes place in a similar manner. The tower is suitable for the solvent treatment of petroleum and coal tar distillates, lubricating oil distillates and kerosene and provides for intimate contact of the liquid phases without channelling, recycling and emulsification difficulties. The tower is also suitable for vapour-liquid treatment.