Abstract: A tower packing element for randomly dumped beds includes a straight leg portion attached at one end to an arcuate portion. The length of the straight leg portion is substantially equal to the length of a cord that extends between the ends of the arcuate portion. The arcuate portion and the straight leg portion have at least one slot therein. A tongue depends from each slot and points away from the packing element.

Abstract: The invention pertains to the removal of volatile organic compounds (VOC), generally speaking from industrial fluids, but with special emphasis on water. The dominant feature of the invention is to resort to physical processes such as stripping, absorption and flash evaporation. so that no environmentally undesirable by-products will be formed. Basically the process achieves in one single tower structure air stripping of the contaminated fluid (water) and subsequent removal of the contaminants from the spent stripping air by controlled and special contacting of the contaminated air with certain low volatility solvents in film tray contacting equipment, which can be used with special advantages to permit removal of the VOC from the spent air, as well as for the recovery of the VOC from the VOC-rich solvents.

Abstract: A new tower packing element intended for randomly dumped packed beds. The new tower packing consists essentially of at least two substantially straight legs which are attached tangentially to the ends of an arcuately bent surface. The straight legs contain slots. Tongues either associated with the slots or independent of the slots point away from these substantially straight legs. The arcuately bent portion is free of slots and tongues.

Abstract: A counter-current operating, gas-liquid or vapor-liquid contact tower having a plurality of randomly dumped mass and heat transfer media. The improvement comprises first means for collecting and redistributing the flow to a lower positioned mass and heat transfer media and second means for introducing gas into an upwardly positioned mass and heat transfer media. More specifically, it comprises first construction elements in the form of horizontal, elongated troughs separated by substantial widths from each other having upturned sides extending angularly outwardly, the ends of said troughs abutting a circumferential flow channel, and second construction elements directly supported by said upturned sides, said second construction elements extending upwardly of said first construction elements.

Abstract: A gas-liquid contact apparatus of the kind in which a plurality of substantially horizontal trays are arranged one above another in closely spaced relationship and intended to carry a relatively thin liquid film. Each tray is provided with a plurality of integral, downwardly extending chimneys that have been formed from the material of the tray itself. The chimneys, as viewed in vertical diametrical cross-section, blend into a substantially planar portion of the tray by an integral connecting portion having a radius of curvature in the range of substantially 0.75 millimeter to substantially 10 millimeters. The planar portion has a thickness in the substantially 0.25 millimeter to substantially 2.0 millimeters.

Abstract: A gas-liquid contact tower of the kind comprising an outer tower shell, a stack of superimposed, substantially flat, horizontal trays spaced vertically apart within the shell so that in use each can carry a thin film of liquid discharged within the tower shell. The horizontal trays are provided with a plurality of flow apertures distributed substantially uniformly over at least part of the surface of the trays. The apertures are suitable to permit in use the thin liquid film on the trays to flow downwardly therethrough from tray to tray and to permit gas to flow upwardly therethrough from tray to tray. The trays are arranged as a plurality of pre-assembled sub-assemblies, each sub-assembly comprising a plurality of tray portions assembled, prior to introduction into the tower shell, to form a sub-stack of vertically spaced apart, substantially superimposed tray portions. At least some of the sub-assemblies are arranged in a side-by-side relationship in the stack.

Abstract: A support for randomly dumped packings in a gas-liquid contact tower, such as a distillation tower. The support may be horizontal grid,-through the openings of which vertical rods are integrally secured, serving as stilts to directly support, on their top ends, the packings so as to eliminate blocking of air or liquid passage through the support. The rods may be solid or tubular and in some cases may also extend downwardly of the grid terminating in a pointed lower end to serve as drip points. The grid may be of various shapes.

Abstract: A tower packing element for use in towers for distillations, gas absorptions and related mass transfer operations. The base of the element has a surface contour which is generated by the rotation of a two-dimensional curve having reverse curvature through an approximate angle range of from ten to one hundred and eighty degrees around a straight line which lies within the plane of said curve. The base is further provided with slots and depending tongues.

Abstract: A randomly packed bed in a tower or column to prevent nesting of the packing elements and to improve mass transfer efficiency and physical stability. Each packing element has an intermediate curved portion joined with end portions curved in an opposite direction from the intermediate portion. Slots and tongues are provided at least in the intermediate portion. The tongues extend from the concave surface of the intermediate portion and preferably extend beyond a line joining the extremities of said end portions. The intermediate and end portions may be either circular or non-circular. The end portions may be of different lengths. The packing element and sometimes the tongues may be perforated.

Abstract: A randomly packed bed in a tower or column to prevent nesting of the packing elements and to improve physical stability and efficiency. Each packing element is a curved strip with reinforcing ribs and with one or more integral tabs or tongues depending downwardly from slots spaced longitudinally of the strips. Multiple rows with slots may be provided along the strip. The strips are perforated throughout their entire area to provide improved drainage and improved interlocking and improved internal liquid distribution in the packed bed. Point-to-point contact between packing elements, substantially non-varying resistance to fluids flowing and improved mass transfer performance resulting from a more uniform packing density are assured.

Abstract: A liquid-gas contacting apparatus for distillation, gas absorption and related mass transfer operations. The apparatus comprises a series of vertically spaced, horizontal sheets having openings which are laterally offset from each other. The space between the sheets is partly or entirely filled with mesh packing material, such as knitted wire mesh, steel wool, hair-like metallic or fibrous packing material, such as fiberglass and the like. Such packing material may be in the form of undulating mats. Various shapes of chimneys may surround the openings and extend either upwardly, downwardly or both. In some instances the chimneys themselves may be of such packing material and may be filled with mats of such packing material. Greatly enhanced mass transfer efficiency is obtained.

Abstract: A randomly packed bed in a tower or column to prevent nesting of the packing elements and to improve physical stability and efficiency. Each packing element is a curved strip with one or more integral tabs or tongues depending downwardly from slots spaced longitudinally of the strips. Single or multiple rows and slots may be provided along the strip. Point-to-point contact between packing elements and substantially non-varying resistance to fluids flowing and improved mass transfer performance resulting from a more uniform packing density is assured.

Abstract: A randomly packed bed in a tower or column to prevent nesting of the packing elements and to improve physical stability and efficiency. Each packing element is a curved strip with one or more integral tabs or tongues depending downwardly from slots spaced longitudinally of the strips. Single or multiple rows and slots may be provided along the strip. Point-to-point contact between packing elements and substantially non-varying resistance to fluids flowing and improved mass transfer performance resulting from a more uniform packing density is assured.

Abstract: A gas-liquid contact tower comprises a tower shell and a plurality of superimposed generally horizontal contact plates mounted in vertically spaced relation within the tower shell, with the plates being grouped into at least one subassembly thereof. A supporting and sealing arrangement is provided for removably supporting said plate subassembly within the tower shell and for preventing any of the contact liquid from bypassing the plate subassembly. The supporting and sealing arrangement includes a first annular component permanently secured and sealed to adjacent inner surfaces of the tower shell, and a second annular component joined circumferentially to the plate subassembly and sealed detachably and circumferentially to the first supporting and sealing component. An annular gasket arrangement is inserted generally between the first and second components of the supporting and sealing arrangement and is circumferentially loaded by a loading arrangement mounted on at least one of the components.

Abstract: A gas-liquid contact tower comprises an outer tower shell and a plurality of superimposed generally horizontal contact plates within the tower shell. The plates are grouped into at least one sub-assembly thereof, and an arrangement is provided for removably supporting the plate assembly within the tower shell. A baffle arrangement is mounted within the tower shell and adjacently overlying the plate sub-assembly and is shaped to minimize or substantially preclude splashing of the shell walls. The baffle arrangement includes a cylindrical section closely but removably fitted within adjacent wall surfaces of the tower shell and a frustoconical section for directing fluid from the cylindrical baffle section onto a contact plate immediately underlying the baffle arrangement. The cylindrical baffle section has sufficient height to afford that flow resistance which would substantially preclude flow of condensible vapor between the adjacent wall surfaces and the baffle arrangement.

Abstract: A gas-liquid contact tower comprises a tower shell and a plurality of superimposed generally horizontal contact plates mounted in vertically spaced relation within the tower shell, with the plates being grouped into at least one subassembly thereof. A supporting and sealing arrangement is provided for removably supporting said plate subassembly within the tower shell and for preventing any of the contact liquid from bypassing the plate subassembly. The supporting and sealing arrangement includes a first annular component permanently secured and sealed to adjacent inner surfaces of the tower shell, and a second annular component joined circumferentially to the plate subassembly and sealed detachably and circumferentially to the first supporting and sealing component. An annular gasket arrangement is inserted generally between the first and second components of the supporting and sealing arrangement and is circumferentially loaded by a loading arrangement mounted on at least one of the components.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for stripping fatty acids and removing objectionable odors or flavors from oils and fats comprising a chamber which encloses a stack of horizontal, parallel disposed plates, each plate having a plurality of apertures defined by chimneys and extending downwardly from the plates. Thin films of heated oil collect on the plates while superheated steam is passed upwardly through said chimneys and over said films to boil out fatty acids and volatile, odor-forming matter. Preferably a separate oil-sealed lower compartment is provided for cooling the oil, stripped and deodorized, which enters through traps into a sealed lower section before the oil is removed from the chamber. It is also preferable to pass heated oil, before introduction into said chamber, through a preliminary flash chamber of similar construction to said chamber. Inert gas, such as nitrogen or steam, is passed upwardly of the chimneys to strip fatty acids from the films of oil.