Abstract: A heat transfer media that provides more complete and more even use of the media volume by enhancing the characteristics and/or directions of fluid flow across the media. The heat transfer media includes a heat transfer block having one or more layers that include longitudinal flow passages for enabling fluid flow in the longitudinal direction across each layer, and also include transverse flow passage for enabling lateral cross-flow between the longitudinal flow passages. The heat transfer block may include a plurality of stackable plates, with each plate having fins laterally spaced apart to define longitudinally extending channels, and at least one aperture extending transversely through at least one fin for enabling transverse cross-flow between the longitudinal channels. The aperture may be configured as a recessed groove in the fin, and the fin may have ridge portions longitudinally spaced apart to at least partially define the recessed groove.

Abstract: An improved random packing is the subject of the present invention. The packing element comprises a generally spherically shaped member which can be a perfect sphere, an ellipse, or some variation on either of the foregoing. The sphere is a hollow body having inner and outer surfaces with a plurality of openings passing through the body. A hypothetical axis passing through the sphere defines circular openings at both ends and the openings in between these two ends are generally elongated. The solid walls which form the sphere are of sufficient thickness so as to accommodate a plurality of indentations, some of which are formed in the solid walls and other indentations being formed coincidentally with the elongated openings between the solid wall sections. The indentations are characterized by curvilinear surfaces so that the total surface area presented by the inner surface (S1) and all of the remaining surfaces (S2) are at least twice the area of solid sphere of the same diameter with no indentations.

Abstract: A packing element is provided for use in a mass transfer tower or a heat sink. The packing element is in the form of a saddle shaped member having a configuration generally corresponding to a portion of a toroid generated by rotating a plane closed curve about an axis that is coplanar with and spaced from the curve. The curve has inner and outer surface generating segments. The inner segment is closer to the axis than the outer segment. The outer segment is essentially w-shaped. The member has respective inner and outer surface portions which correspond in transverse cross-sectional shape to the shape of said segments. In one form of the invention, the inner segment is essentially w-shaped and complementary to said outer segment, whereby the element itself is essentially w-shaped in transverse cross-sectional configuration.