Abstract: This disclosure relates to packing elements for fluid-fluid contact apparatus of the packed tower type. The packing elements comprise open-ended tubular members of any desired cross-sectional configuration having a maximum transverse dimension or diameter greater than its width in the axial direction, and having one or more protuberances or ribs extending inwardly from the inside wall of the member. Additionally, the overall length of the packing element is at least as great as the diameter of the tubular portion thereof, and none of the protuberances extend the whole of the length of the packing element.

Abstract: Packing elements for fluid-fluid contact apparatus comprising a pair of oppositely curved strip members connected together at their ends so that the two curved members have generally parallel non-coincident planes of curvature. The curved strip members should be "under square" as is also, preferably, the whole packing element.

Abstract: Gas-liquid contact apparatus comprising a packed bed formed of at least two superimposed layers of fabricated packings including an upper layer of randomly dumped members comprising ribbed tubular elements and a lower layer of stacked packing elements.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to packing elements for fluid-fluid contact apparatus of the packed tower type, and also to a method of contacting a fluid with another fluid in such an apparatus. The packing elements comprise open-ended tubular members of any desired cross-sectional configuration having a maximum transverse dimension or diameter greater than its width in the axial direction, and having one or more protuberances or ribs extending inwardly from the inside wall of the member.