An apparatus for collecting and redistributing a flow of a liquid descending
in
an exchange column containing a layer of structured packing and having a longitudinal
axis, a cross-sectional area, and an inner wall having an inner perimeter, includes:
a wall-flow collector located above the layer of structured packing, the wall-flow
collector having an outer perimeter adjacent the inner perimeter of the inner wall
and being adapted to collect at least a portion of the liquid descending on or
near the inner wall of the exchange column; a transmission means for transmitting
at least a portion of the collected liquid collected by the wall-flow collector
toward the longitudinal axis a substantial distance across the cross-sectional
area of the exchange column; and a dispensing means for dispensing at least a portion
of the portion of the collected liquid from the transmission means to the layer
of structured packing.