Foam-type apparatus for carrying out heat and mass transfer processes

Claim 1

A foam-type apparatus for effecting heat and mass transfer processes, comprising: a shell, a plurality of vertically spaced plate-like members extending transversely inside said shell, each plate-like member comprising a conically coiled tube with intermediate spaces between the turns thereof, means for supplying a liquid to be processed from above onto said platelike members; means for supplying a gas to be processed into the bottom of the shell for upward flow through the intermediate spaces of each of said plurality of said plate-like members, whereby foam is formed on said plate-like members by interaction of the liquid and gas; rotation- promoting plates attached to said plate-like members and extending downwardly and outwardly thereof to impart whirling motion to the gas; a plurality of devices for distributing the processed liquid from each platelike member to the next successive lower plate-like member; each of said devices being disposed above a central portion of a respective plate-like member; each of said devices including an overflow vessel which tapers downwardly, and a vertical conduit tapering downwardly and projecting downwardly into said overflow vessel to form a hydraulic seal for the downflowing liquid disposed centrally of each of said plate-like members.