Appeal No. 2001-0370
Application No. 08/978,991
flows downward through the tower contacting the combustion gas
flowing in a counter current direction. Id., page 3. According
to appellants, in conventional gas-liquid contactors, the
efficiency of the acid gas in particulate removal is reduced as a
result of “wall effects” Id. The term “wall effects” refers to
the occurrence of an annular shaped outer region between the
outermost nozzles and the contactor walls wherein the spray
concentration or density is lower than in the central region of
the contactor. Id. The annular shaped region is created when
the spray from the nozzles nearest the contactor wall impinge on
the wall such that the contact liquid flows downwardly on the
surface of the wall. Id. The combination of low spray
concentration/density and higher gas velocity near the contactor
wall causes a low liquid to gas ratio, high flu gas penetration
and, a reduced absorber efficiency. Id.
Appellants’ invention is designed to reduce wall effects.
Id. In accordance with the invention, a deflecting means is
disposed on the wall of the gas-liquid contactor to deflect a
portion of the contact liquid away from the wall and to
reintroduce at least a portion thereof as droplets into the
center of the gas-liquid contactor. Id.; claims 1 and 11. The
3
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007