Partitioned Distributor Tray for Offshore Gas-Liquid Columns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional distributor trays in offshore gas/liquid contact columns are disrupted by wave motion, leading to uneven liquid distribution and reduced efficiency due to their reliance on gravity and lack of adaptability to inclination, resulting in performance degradation and bulkiness when attempting to compensate with increased liquid guard height or dual distributor systems.
Innovation Solution
A distributor tray design featuring perforated partitioning means that allows liquid to flow between compartments, with chimneys projecting from the tray surface and non-parallel walls, optimizing compartment dimensions to maintain a homogeneous liquid level and radial dispersion even under significant inclination, thereby minimizing the imbalance index and ensuring efficient fluid distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional distributor trays with chimneys are used in offshore columns, then liquid distribution can be achieved under normal conditions, but wave motion causes tray inclination leading to non-uniform liquid levels and poor distribution quality
Solution Approach 1:
The distributor tray is divided into multiple compartments separated by partition walls. Each compartment independently maintains its liquid level through local gravity-driven flow and chimney ventilation, making the system resilient to tray inclination caused by wave motion. The segmentation allows each compartment to function semi-independently, preserving overall distribution quality even when the tray is tilted.
Solution Approach 2:
Perforated partitions act as intermediaries between compartments, allowing controlled liquid flow while maintaining separation. The perforations enable liquid to pass through partition walls via gravity-driven flow, ensuring liquid level equalization and continuous distribution across the entire tray surface despite inclination. This intermediary structure mediates between the need for compartmentalization and uniform liquid distribution.
2Reliability
If liquid guard height is increased to compensate for wave motion effects, then distribution stability improves, but device bulk and weight increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the tray into compartments, the system achieves distribution stability through local liquid level maintenance in each compartment rather than requiring a uniformly high liquid guard across the entire tray. This reduces the overall liquid volume and associated weight while maintaining stability against wave-induced inclination.
Solution Approach 2:
Each compartment maintains its own local liquid level through gravity-driven flow and chimney ventilation, rather than relying on a globally high liquid guard. This local quality approach ensures stable distribution from each compartment independently, reducing the need for excessive liquid volume and minimizing tray weight while preserving distribution stability.
3Reliability
If dual distributor systems with compartments are used to improve distribution under inclination, then distribution quality improves, but device complexity and bulk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The distributor tray is segmented into multiple compartments separated by partition walls with perforations. This segmentation enables the system to handle tray inclination effectively while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure. Each compartment functions semi-independently, improving distribution quality under inclination without requiring complex dual distributor systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The partition walls incorporate perforations with specific diameter ratios (0.5-5% of chimney cross-section) and height parameters (0.5-1.5 times chimney height). These parameter optimizations enable effective liquid distribution under inclination while keeping the structure simple. The perforated partitions provide the necessary functionality without adding excessive complexity to the distributor design.
4Reliability
If perforated partitions are added to enable liquid flow between compartments, then liquid dispersion improves under inclination, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The perforated partitions use standardized parameter ranges (perforation diameter 0.5-5% of chimney cross-section, partition height 0.5-1.5 times chimney height) that balance manufacturing ease with performance. These optimized parameters enable effective liquid dispersion under inclination while keeping manufacturing complexity manageable through consistent design ratios rather than custom dimensions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a compact and efficient distribution system that maintains a stable liquid guard level and high distribution quality across a range of inclinations, significantly reducing the imbalance index and operational inefficiencies associated with wave motion, while avoiding the bulkiness and cost of conventional solutions.
Implementation Method 1
The square of the velocity of flow of the liquid through orifices (5) in the lower part of tray (2) is proportional to the height of the liquid guard level (UL2 ∝ gh). When tray (2) is inclined under the effect of the wave motion (FIG. 3), the height of the liquid level is no longer uniform on the distributor tray
Implementation Method 2
The gas/liquid contactor contacts gas (G) with liquid (L) to allow exchanges. Each chimney (4) allows passage of the gas, according to the counter-current or co-current operating mode, from the lower part of the column to the upper part of column (1), or from the upper part to the lower part
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is a distributor tray for a column (1) for heating and/or material exchange between a gas (G) and a liquid (L). At least one wall (6) defines compartments (8) on one of the surfaces of the tray. The walls are perforated (7) to allow part of the liquid to flow between compartments (8). Each compartment has a passage providing flow of the liquid through the tray and for a passage providing flow of the gas through the tray. The invention also relates to a gas/liquid contact column, a gas treatment unit, a CO2 capture unit, a distillation unit, and an offshore floating barge including the distributor tray. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing the tray.