Sept. 25, 1951 F.

WETHLY ET AL 2,568,875
SPRAY-TYPE ABSORPTION TOWER
Filed July 20, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet

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Sept. 25, 1951 F. WETHLY ET AL 2,568,875
SPRAY-TYPE ABSORPTION TOWER
Filed July 20, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2

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S FRANS WETHUY
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 Patented Sept. 25, 1951 2,568,875

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2.568.875
SPRAY-TYPE ABSORPTION TOWER
Frans Wethly, Manhasset, and Leonhard T. Hart
mann, New York, N. Y., assignors to Allied
Chemical & Dye Corporation, New York, N.Y.,
a corporation of New York
Application July 20, 1949, Serial No. 105,862
3 Claims. (CI. 26-1)
2
This invention relates to gas and liquid con A further object of the invention is to provide
tact apparatus and more particularly refers to a a tower wherein liquid is sprayed by gravity
new and improved spray-type tower for contact through Successive Spray units in the contact
ting gas with liquid especially adaptable for cool equipment, substituting initial elevation for the
ing of coke oven gas or absorption of coke oven normally required pumping.
gas constituents such as ammonia and light oil. A still further object is to provide a new and
Gas-liquid contact devices utilizing packing, improved gravity spray unit in absorption or cool
bubble-cap trays, perforated plates and baffles ing tower equipment.
have been employed with varying degrees of Suc Further objects and advantages will be appar
cess. These devices have one or more drawbacks O ent from the following description and accom
including large bulky construction, reduced ca panying drawings.
pacity due to low space efficiency, high invest In accordance with the present invention. We
ment cost, frequent plugging of apparatus, chan provide an improved absorption and cooling tower
nelling, and of especial significance to the coke which is especially adapted for the separation and
oven gas industry, substantial resistance to the 5 treatment of constituentS in Coke OWen gas. In
flow of fluids. Resort was had in some instances operation, gas introduced into the botton of the
to towers wherein liquid introduced into the top tower passes upwardly countercurrent to a plu
was sprayed downwardly countercurrent to a rality of sprays of liquid; the scrubbed or cooled
rising stream of gases entering the botton. gas then discharges through the top of the tower
While these towers appreciably lowered the pres 20 and accumulated liquid is removed from the bot
sure drop, unfortunately, due to the long path tom Of the OWer.
traversed by the dropping liquid, stratification of . A feature of the present invention resides in
the liquor occurred resulting in unequal distribu means Spaced along the height of the tower for
tion and poor contact with the gas thereby lower collecting pools of liquid of Sufficient head to
ing the efficiency of operation. Better contact 25 cause the liquid to discharge in the form of a
but not distribution of liquid may be obtained by spray from nozzles disposed beneath the pools,
the introduction of excessively large amounts of In this manner gravity is utilized for redistribu
liquid at, of course, a sacrifice in dilution of the tion of the absorbing liquid in the tower thereby
liquid product and increased operating costs. eliminating pumps, pipes and controls normally
Some improvement has been made on the spray 30 required for this purpose. With the increased
type device by the insertion of a plurality of cost of packing and the difficulties involved in
sprays, each equipped with piping, pumps and cleaning all types of packing in conventional
control means for mechanically forcing the liquid tower Scrubbers the Scrubber of the present in
from one to another. The addition of this auxil vention is of particular value because packing
iary equipment materially increases the cost of is eliminated and the non-plugging, low gravity
the apparatus and complicates the operation by head spray means used for redistribution of the
the requirement of manipulating the multitude absorbing liquor eliminates the piping usually
of controls; therefore, in the coke-oven industry required for Such distribution.
devices of this type are of infrequent occurrence. In one embodiment of the invention the appa
Also, as in the case of treating coke oven products, ratus comprises a vertical cylindrical casing hav
the fluids frequently contain suspended solids ing a gas inlet and a liquid outlet near the bottom
which cause considerable difficulty from clogging and a liquid inlet and a gas Outlet near the top,
or wearing out of the pumps or other portions a plurality of spaced liquid spray units disposed
of the apparatus because of corrosion and abra along the height of the cylindrical chamber, each
SO spray unit consisting of a circular plate divided
An object of the present invention is to provide into two Segments. With the chords Of the two
a spray-type tower of economical construction segments joined to a central trough for the col
adapted to effect repeated redistribution of liquid lection of liquid falling from above on the seg
and maximum intimate contact between gas and ments inclined toward the trough, a pipe termi
liquid with low and uniform pressure drop in the 50 nating in a Spray nozzle connected to the bottom
tOWer. of the trough, a semi-circular hole in each Seg
Another object of the invention is to provide a ment on each side of the trough to permit the
spray-type tower of high efficiency with greater free passage of gas upwardly through the seg
capacity having a simple construction to avoid ments, a vertical lip extending along the arc of
the possibility of defective working, 55 the semi-circular holes to prevent the flow of
 2,568,875
3 4.
liquid therethrough, an inverted cup-shaped the cross-sectional area of the tower as shown
baffle disposed above the two semi-circular holes by dotted lines.
to prevent liquid from falling through the semi The assembly of spraying unit 5 may be more
circular holes, and side openings in the inverted readily seen in Figure 3 which for clarity has
cup-shaped baffles for the escape of gases passing omitted baffle 22. The circular plate consisting
through the Semi-circular holes. of inclined segments f s is disposed on an L
Referring to the drawings: shaped member 28 which rests on angle iron 3,
Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view with por as shown in Figure 2. Between the opposed
tions cut away of the spray-type absorption tower segments 5 is the trough formed by end walls
embodying the present invention. 10 6, side walls, 7 and bottom 8. Liquid drop
Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevation in section lets from above falling on inclined segments
showing a spray unit of the absorption tower om f5 roll into the trough, drain through tapered
a larger Scale. conduit 29, thence into pipe 24. The stream
Figure 3 is a perspective view of a spray unit of liquid leaving the bottom of conduit 24
of the absorption tower with the inverted cup S falls on the first distributing plate 25 from which
shaped baffle removed. a portion of the liquid is directed laterally across
Referring to Figure 1, the tower comprises a the tower in the form of a curtain of liquid. An
vertical cylindrical shell or casing f having a gas other portion of the liquid falls through opening
inlet 2 through which gas enters disposed below 27 onto the succeeding plate and a second curtain
the spray means, and a gas outlet 3 near the 20 of liquid of Smaller intensity is directed across
top through which gas discharges. Liquid ab the tower. In this manner nozzle 6 produces a
sorption media introduced through conduit 4 col series of liquid curtains of varying intensity
lects in a pool of sufficient head on spray unit 5 across the tower. A head of liquid resulting from
to discharge by gravity through spray nozzle 6. the pool of absorption media accumulating in the
The absorption media distributed by means of trough and pipe 24 of about 50 inches will
spray nozzle 6 in the form of finely divided par ordinarily have suficient pressure for the emis
ticles or mist across the cross-sectional area of sion of sprays of desired intensity. Gases pass
casing , falls upon a succeeding spray unit 5, upwardly through spray unit 5 out of contact
collects in a pool therein and discharges by with the liquid by rising through semi-circular
gravity through a succeeding spray nozzle 6. The holes 2 and thence out through baffle 22 shown
lowermost unit 5 instead of terminating in a
spray nozzle 6 has substituted a downpipe T from in Figure 2. A vertical lip 3 extends along the
which the liquid flows, accumulates in the bottom arc of the semi-circular holes 2 to prevent liquid
of the tower and withdrawn through liquid out from flowing down through them. In this man
let 8. As indicated in Figure 1 a multiplicity of 35 her all the liquid above the spray unit is utilized
spray units 5 may be employed depending, of to provide a gravity head for the spray nozzle
of course, upon the process requirements. Casing immediately below. The semi-circular holes 2
may be provided with conventional windows should be of sufficientsize so as not to appreciably
and manholes, not shown in the drawing, for visi retard the flow of gases therethrough. Ordi
bility and ready access into the tower. All the 40 narily the operation will be satisfactory if the
spray units 5 in tower are of similar construc radius of the semi-circular hole 2 is about one
tion but desirably are staggered with their quarter the radius of segment 5. As previously
troughs at right angles to one another as shown mentioned in connection with Figure 2 cover plate
in Figure 1. In order to insure the maintenance 9 attached to side wall 7 of the trough shown
of a proper liquid level in spray units 5 a gauge 45 in greater detail in Figure 3 prevents liquid from
glass 9 connected at a point above spray unit 5 spilling out at this point.
by conduit f and to the liquid pool by conduit 2 Although certain preferred embodiments of
may be provided. Adjustment of the liquid level the invention have been disclosed for purpose of
in spray units 5 may be made by pumping more illustration it will be evident that various changes
or less absorption media through liquid inlet 4. 50 and modifications may be made therein without
In Figure 2 spray unit 5 is Supported in position departing from the Scope and spirit of the in
by angle irons 3. A cement seal 4 between the vention.
inner wall of casing and the Outer ends of Spray We claim:
unit 5 prevents leakage of gas along the walls. 1. A gas and liquid contact apparatus compris
A circular plate consists of segments 5 which are ing an upright casing, a gas inlet and liquid
inclined towards the trough which latter is Outlet near the bottom of the casing, a gas outlet
bounded by end walls 6, side walls f and bottom and liquid inlet near the top of the casing, a
f 8. A cover plate 9 attached to side walls T plurality of spaced liquid spray units disposed
of the trough facilitates gas distribution and pre along the height of the casing intermediate the
vents liquid from Spilling out at this point. 60 gas outlet and liquid inlet near the top of the
Covering the semi-circular holes 2 in segments casing and the gas inlet and liquid outlet near
5 is an inverted cup-shaped baffle 22, preferably the bottom of the casing, each spray unit com
of decreasing diameter and having side openings prising a plate divided into two segments with the
23 for the escape of gases passing therethrough. chords of the two segments joined to a trough for
Extending from bottom 8 of the trough is down 65 the collection of liquid falling from above on the
pipe 24 terminating in spray nozzle 6. Although Segments inclined toward the trough, a pipe
any Suitable Spraying means may be adopted for terminating in a spray nozzle connected to the
effecting the dispersion of liquid in fine droplets bottom of the trough, an aperture in each Seg
acroSS the CrOSS-Sectional area, We have found a ment on each side of the trough to permit the
Spray nozzle consisting of Several Spaced convex 70 free passage of gas upwardly through the seg
plates 25 of diminishing size joined together by ments, and a baffle disposed above the apertures
members 26 and having central conduits 2 of to prevent liquid from falling therethrough.
diminishing diameter through the Several plates 2. A gas and liquid contact apparatus compris
gives a Series of curtains of varying intensity SO ing an upright casing, a gas inlet and liquid out
as to effectively spread the liquid dropletS acOSS 75 let near the botton. Of the casing, a gas outlet
 2,568,875
and liquid inlet near the top of the casing, a segment on each side of the trough to permit
plurality of spaced liquid spray units disposed the free passage of gas upwardly through the
along the height of the casing intermediate the segments, a vertical lip extending along the arc of
gas outlet and liquid inlet near the top of the the semi-circular holes to prevent the flow of
casing and the gas inlet and liquid outlet near liquid therethrough, an inverted cup-shaped baffle
the bottom of the casing, each spray unit com disposed above the two Semi-circular holes to pre
prising a plate divided into two segments with vent liquid from falling through the semi-cir
the chords of the two segments joined to a trough cular holes and side openings in the inverted cup
for the collection of liquid falling from above on shaped baffle for the escape of gases passing
the segments inclined toward the trough, an 0 through the semi-circular holes.
aperture in each Segment. On each side of the FRANS WEITHLY.
trough to permit the free passage of gas upwardly LEONHARD T. HARTMANN.
through the segments, a baffle disposed above the
apertures to prevent liquid from falling there REFERENCES C TED
through, and said spaced liquid spray units placed s The following references are of record in the
in staggered relationship with the troughs of al file of this patent:
ternate spray units disposed at a right angle to
one another. UNITED STATES PATENTS
3. A liquid spray unit adapted for use in gas Number Name Date
and liquid contact apparatus comprising a cir- 20 965,116 Morison ------------ July 19, 1910
cular plate divided into two segments with the 1989,033 Weir -------------- Jan. 22, 1932
chords of the two segments joined to a central 2,088,124 Webre ------------- July 27, 1937
trough for the collection of liquid falling on the FOREIGN PATENTS
segments inclined toward the trough, a pipe
terminating in a spray nozzle connected to the 25 Number Country Date
bottom of the trough, a semi-circular hole in each 120,304 Great Britain -------- Nov. 7, 1918