Abstract: This invention relates to a packing element for use in mass transfer or heat transfer columns in which gas and/or liquid streams are conducted, particularly in opposing streams, such as are used in distillation, rectification and absorption towers. It is desired to provide such packing elements which can be manufactured at low cost and which can be assembled to form a packing that has a higher effectiveness and involves a smaller pressure loss. This is accomplished in that the plates are formed with through slits, which are preferably parallel to each other and staggered in length and are spaced apart throughout their length so that laterally adjacent slits define bridgelike lands. Such slits act as capillaries so that a droplet impinging on the plate at a slit will spread along the slit and the plate will thus be wetted on a larger area.

Abstract: The contacting arrangement comprises at least one set of parallel plates, which are equally spaced apart and extend at an angle to the horizontal. Each of said plates is formed with a plurality of slots, which are arranged in at least two generally parallel rows, which are transversely spaced apart in the vertical direction. Each of said slots is defined on at least one side by a lug, which is bent from said plate. The longitudinal directions of the slots of adjacent rows of each plate are in mutually opposite senses from the vertical.

Abstract: A grid-shaped grate for carrying randomly poured particles or filler bodies in mass transfer columns. Each grate comprises of a plurality of grid walls defining openings for receiving the particles or filler bodies, the openings being smaller in size than the particles or filler bodies. The grate is provided at each intersection of the grid walls with spacers which are equally spaced one from another at a distance which is approximately equal to the width of each grid opening. The height of each spacer is approximately equal in size to at least one half of a particle or filler body size, so as to prevent the particles or filler bodies from closing the grid openings.

Abstract: The packing is U-shaped in cross-section and comprises a double-curved bight portion which is arcuate in longitudinal section and in cross-section. Two transversely spaced apart, corrugated side wall portions extend along and merge into said bight portion on one side thereof and are formed with corrugations which extend in their longitudinal direction to and merge into said bight portion and have a crest-to-trough height in excess of the wall thickness of said side wall portions. The bight portion is concave in cross-section on the side on which said side wall portions are disposed and is concave in longitudinal section on the opposite side.

Abstract: Each of a plurality of stacked contacting grates comprises a set of laterally spaced apart, parallel first strips and a set of laterally spaced apart second strips, each of which has a longitudinal direction which is transverse to the longitudinal direction of said first strips of the same grate. Each of said second strips having at right angles to its longitudinal direction a direction which includes an oblique angle with the longitudinal direction of said first strips of the same grate. Said oblique angle is in the same sense for all said second strips of a grate and in opposite senses for the second strips of adjacent grates, whereby said second strips of all said grates define zig-zag flow passages. Each strip of each of said sets intersects all strips of the other set of the same grate. At least part of said strips of each of said grates are formed with holes.