Abstract: An exchange column having at least a first layer of structured packing and a second layer of structured packing, each layer formed from corrugated plates, the corrugated plates of the second layer having an orientation that is rotated at an angle relative to the corrugated plates of the first layer from 20° to 90°, wherein the vertical height of the first layer and/or the vertical height of the second layer is greater than 350 mm or greater than 400 mm.

Abstract: An exchange column having at least a first layer of structured packing and a second layer of structured packing, each layer formed from corrugated plates, the corrugated plates of the second layer having an orientation that is rotated at an angle relative to the corrugated plates of the first layer from 20° to 90°, wherein the vertical height of the first layer and/or the vertical height of the second layer is greater than 350 mm or greater than 400 mm.

Abstract: An apparatus for distributing a flow of a liquid descending in an inner space of a packed column includes: a collector to collect the flow of the liquid; a mixer below and vertically spaced apart from the collector to receive and mix the liquid collected; a first conduit to receive and transmit at least part of the liquid from a first sector of the collector to a first zone of the mixer; and a second conduit to receive and transmit at least part of the liquid from a second sector of the collector to a second zone of the mixer. A geometric center of the first sector of the collector is positioned circumferentially away from a geometric center of the first zone of the mixer and/or a geometric center of the collector's second sector is positioned circumferentially away from a geometric center of the mixer's second zone.

Abstract: A plate fin heat exchanger comprises a folded fin sheet comprising fins wherein the fin sheet comprises a plurality of perforations, such plurality of perforations are positioned on the fin sheet in parallel rows when such fin sheet is in an unfolded state, such parallel rows of perforations on the fin sheet comprise a first spacing between the parallel rows of perforations (S1), a second spacing between sequential perforations within the parallel row of perforations (S2), a third spacing (or offset) between the perforations in adjacent parallel rows of perforations (S3), and a perforation diameter (D), wherein the ratio of the first spacing between the parallel rows of perforations to the perforation diameter (S1/D) is in the range of 0.75 to 2.0, and wherein the angle between the fins and the parallel rows of perforations is less than or equal to five degrees (?5°).

Abstract: An apparatus for a heat transfer or mass transfer process, comprising a column or divided column having at least one pair of converging walls or wall portions and, within at least a region of the column or divided column bounded by at least one pair of converging walls or wall portions, a structured packing having a corrugation angle of at least about 50°; a method of heat and/or mass transfer applicable to the apparatus; and a method of installation of structured packing into a relevant apparatus.

Abstract: A plate fin heat exchanger comprises a folded fin sheet comprising fins wherein the fin sheet comprises a plurality of perforations, such plurality of perforations are positioned on the fin sheet in parallel rows when such fin sheet is in an unfolded state, such parallel rows of perforations on the fin sheet comprise a first spacing between the parallel rows of perforations (S1), a second spacing between sequential perforations within the parallel row of perforations (S2), a third spacing (or offset) between the perforations in adjacent parallel rows of perforations (S3), and a perforation diameter (D), wherein the ratio of the first spacing between the parallel rows of perforations to the perforation diameter (S1/D) is in the range of 0.75 to 2.0, and wherein the angle between the fins and the parallel rows of perforations is less than or equal to five degrees (?5°).

Abstract: An apparatus for distributing a flow of a liquid descending in an inner space of a packed column includes: a collector to collect the flow of the liquid; a mixer below and vertically spaced apart from the collector to receive and mix the liquid collected; a first conduit to receive and transmit at least part of the liquid from a first sector of the collector to a first zone of the mixer; and a second conduit to receive and transmit at least part of the liquid from a second sector of the collector to a second zone of the mixer. A geometric center of the first sector of the collector is positioned circumferentially away from a geometric center of the first zone of the mixer and/or a geometric center of the collector's second sector is positioned circumferentially away from a geometric center of the mixer's second zone.

Abstract: A divided wall exchange column includes a dividing wall strengthened by stiffening members and/or a double wall design to better withstand pressure differentials and minimize temperature differentials. When a double wall is used, cost of manufacture and installation is minimized by reducing the manufacturing tolerances required while providing a design robust in construction, installation, and operation. When structured packing is used, the stiffening members, combined with positioning the layers of packing at preferred angles relative to the dividing wall, result in minimal interference with the heat and/or mass transfer process while minimizing the complexity of manufacture and construction of the packing. Further, by positioning the top layer of structured packing at other preferred angles relative to the dividing wall, a simplified liquid distributor design may be used in the divided wall exchange column while the layers below may still be orientated as described above with all the associated benefits.

Abstract: A divided wall exchange column includes a dividing wall strengthened by stiffening members and/or a double wall design to better withstand pressure differentials and minimize temperature differentials. When a double wall is used, cost of manufacture and installation is minimized by reducing the manufacturing tolerances required while providing a design robust in construction, installation, and operation. When structured packing is used, the stiffening members, combined with positioning the layers of packing at preferred angles relative to the dividing wall, result in minimal interference with the heat and/or mass transfer process while minimizing the complexity of manufacture and construction of the packing. Further, by positioning the top layer of structured packing at other preferred angles relative to the dividing wall, a simplified liquid distributor design may be used in the divided wall exchange column while the layers below may still be orientated as described above with all the associated benefits.

Abstract: A divided wall exchange column includes a dividing wall strengthened by stiffening members and/or a double wall design to better withstand pressure differentials and minimize temperature differentials. When a double wall is used, cost of manufacture and installation is minimized by reducing the manufacturing tolerances required while providing a design robust in construction, installation, and operation. When structured packing is used, the stiffening members, combined with positioning the layers of packing at preferred angles relative to the dividing wall, result in minimal interference with the heat and/or mass transfer process while minimizing the complexity of manufacture and construction of the packing. Further, by positioning the top layer of structured packing at other preferred angles relative to the dividing wall, a simplified liquid distributor design may be used in the divided wall exchange column while the layers below may still be orientated as described above with all the associated benefits.

Abstract: A divided wall exchange column includes a dividing wall strengthened by stiffening members and/or a double wall design to better withstand pressure differentials and minimize temperature differentials. When a double wall is used, cost of manufacture and installation is minimized by reducing the manufacturing tolerances required while providing a design robust in construction, installation, and operation. When structured packing is used, the stiffening members, combined with positioning the layers of packing at preferred angles relative to the dividing wall, result in minimal interference with the heat and/or mass transfer process while minimizing the complexity of manufacture and construction of the packing. Further, by positioning the top layer of structured packing at other preferred angles relative to the dividing wall, a simplified liquid distributor design may be used in the divided wall exchange column while the layers below may still be orientated as described above with all the associated benefits.

Abstract: A divided wall exchange column includes a dividing wall strengthened by stiffening members and/or a double wall design to better withstand pressure differentials and minimize temperature differentials. When a double wall is used, cost of manufacture and installation is minimized by reducing the manufacturing tolerances required while providing a design robust in construction, installation, and operation. When structured packing is used, the stiffening members, combined with positioning the layers of packing at preferred angles relative to the dividing wall, result in minimal interference with the heat and/or mass transfer process while minimizing the complexity of manufacture and construction of the packing. Further, by positioning the top layer of structured packing at other preferred angles relative to the dividing wall, a simplified liquid distributor design may be used in the divided wall exchange column while the layers below may still be orientated as described above with all the associated benefits.

Abstract: An assembly in an exchange column includes a plurality of generally vertically adjacent layers of structured packing. Each layer includes a plurality of generally horizontally adjacent structured packing elements, each of which has an upper edge and a lower edge. Each layer has a top having a plurality of the upper edges and a bottom having a plurality of the lower edges. In a first layer of packing at least one of the upper edge and the lower edge is modified on at least one element. In a second layer of the packing, located vertically adjacent the first layer, the upper edges and the lower edges are unmodified on substantially all of the elements, whereby one of the unmodified upper edge and the unmodified lower edge on at least one of the elements in the second layer is adjacent one of the modified edges in the first layer.

Abstract: An assembly in an exchange column includes a plurality of generally vertically adjacent layers of structured packing. Each layer includes a plurality of generally horizontally adjacent structured packing elements, each of which has an upper edge and a lower edge. Each layer has a top having a plurality of the upper edges and a bottom having a plurality of the lower edges. In a first layer of packing at least one of the upper edge and the lower edge is modified on at least one element. In a second layer of the packing, located vertically adjacent the first layer, the upper edges and the lower edges are unmodified on substantially all of the elements, whereby one of the unmodified upper edge and the unmodified lower edge on at least one of the elements in the second layer is adjacent one of the modified edges in the first layer.

Abstract: A divided wall exchange column includes a dividing wall strengthened by stiffening members and/or a double wall design to better withstand pressure differentials and minimize temperature differentials. When a double wall is used, cost of manufacture and installation is minimized by reducing the manufacturing tolerances required while providing a design robust in construction, installation, and operation. When structured packing is used, the stiffening members, combined with positioning the layers of packing at preferred angles relative to the dividing wall, result in minimal interference with the heat and/or mass transfer process while minimizing the complexity of manufacture and construction of the packing. Further, by positioning the top layer of structured packing at other preferred angles relative to the dividing wall, a simplified liquid distributor design may be used in the divided wall exchange column while the layers below may still be orientated as described above with all the associated benefits.

Abstract: A structured packing element has at least one edge adapted to intermesh with an edge of at least one other structured packing element. The structured packing elements may be used in a packed section in an exchange column which includes: a first layer of structured packing including a first structured packing element having an upper edge adapted to intermesh with a generally vertically adjacent lower edge of a second structured packing element; and a second layer of structured packing located above the first layer of structured packing, the second layer including the second structured packing element having the lower edge adapted to intermesh with the generally vertically adjacent upper edge of the first structured packing element. The upper edge of the first structured packing element intermeshes with the lower edge of the second structured packing element.

Abstract: A structured packing element has at least one edge adapted to intermesh with an edge of at least one other structured packing element. The structured packing elements may be used in a packed section in an exchange column which includes: a first layer of structured packing including a first structured packing element having an upper edge adapted to intermesh with a generally vertically adjacent lower edge of a second structured packing element; and a second layer of structured packing located above the first layer of structured packing, the second layer including the second structured packing element having the lower edge adapted to intermesh with the generally vertically adjacent upper edge of the first structured packing element. The upper edge of the first structured packing element intermeshes with the lower edge of the second structured packing element.

Abstract: A structured packing element has at least one edge adapted to intermesh with an edge of at least one other structured packing element. The structured packing elements may be used in a packed section in an exchange column which includes: a first layer of structured packing including a first structured packing element having an upper edge adapted to intermesh with a generally vertically adjacent lower edge of a second structured packing element; and a second layer of structured packing located above the first layer of structured packing, the second layer including the second structured packing element having the lower edge adapted to intermesh with the generally vertically adjacent upper edge of the first structured packing element. The upper edge of the first structured packing element intermeshes with the lower edge of the second structured packing element.

Abstract: In a plate-fin exchanger having a plurality of fins disposed between neighboring parting sheets, at least a portion of at least one of the fins has a textured surface. The textured surface is in the form of grooves or fluting formed on or applied to the surface of the fin material used in the plate-fin exchanger.

Abstract: A structured packing element includes a means for intermeshing at least one edge of the structured packing element with an adjacent edge of another structured packing element. The structured packing elements may be used in a packed section in an exchange column which includes: a first layer of structured packing including a first structured packing element having an upper edge adapted to intermesh with a generally vertically adjacent lower edge of a second structured packing element; and a second layer of structured packing located above the first layer of structured packing, the second layer including the second structured packing element having the lower edge adapted to intermesh with the generally vertically adjacent upper edge of the first structured packing element. The upper edge of the first structured packing element intermeshes with the lower edge of the second structured packing element.