Abstract: A packing element for enhancing contact between a first fluid having a predominant direction of flow and a second fluid comprises a plurality of adjacently disposed layers of material, each of which is disposed generally in a plane aligned with the direction of flow. The layers each include a plurality of rows of fluid-deflecting corrugations that project out of the plane of the layer, and each of the corrugations include a pair of oppositely-inclined surfaces that define an elongated vertex oriented in a diagonal direction with respect to the predominant flow direction. In one configuration, each corrugation is arranged so that its pair of surfaces are at least partially offset from each other along the diagonal direction. In another configuration, the corrugations have two pairs of oppositely-inclined surfaces that define the elongated, diagonal vertex, and the surfaces in each pair are at least partially offset from each other along the diagonal.

Abstract: A device for enhancing contact between a first fluid having a predominant direction of flow and a second fluid, comprises a layer of material generally disposed in a plane that is aligned with the direction of flow. The layer has a plurality of rows of corrugations projecting out of the plane for deflecting the fluids. Each row of corrugations is arranged in a diagonal with respect to the direction of flow so that an elongated vertex of each corrugation in said row is offset from the elongated vertex of an adjacent corrugation in the row with respect to the diagonal. Among other advantages, the offset, diagonally adjacent vertices are highly effective in interrupting the liquid and vapor flows, thereby improving mixing efficiency while also decreasing vapor pressure drop and increasing flow throughput.

Abstract: One aspect is a method for inserting an instrument into the gastrointestinal tract of a mammal, by emplacing at least a portion of a flexible liner to form within the intestine an inner tube within an outer tube, the inner tube defining a lumen lying within the intestine and having a distal end accessible via the anal opening from outside the body of the mammal, and thereafter passing the instrument into the lumen via its distal end. Another aspect is the combination of an elongate evertible liner, a liner support chamber having a proximal port and a distal port, the liner having its two ends attached respectively at the ports, and a pressurizer for increasing the pressure within the chamber to cause the liner to be everted, the liner comprising a material characterized by having a wall thickness to diameter ratio and a zero strain elasticity modulus whose product is less than 4.0 lb/inch.sup.2, preferably less than 1.0 lb/inch.sup.

Abstract: A packing element for enhancing contact between a fluid having a predominant direction of flow and a second fluid, including: a plurality of layers, each layer having a generally flat portion disposed generally in a plane aligned with the direction of flow and having a plurality of fluid deflection surfaces that project from the plane, the deflection surfaces being oriented obliquely to the direction of flow in a manner selected to impart to different portions of liquid flowing on one side of the layer different components of momentum at different angles to the direction of flow, and to cause those different fluid portions to meet on that side of the layer in a region of the flat portion with a tendency to cancel the momentum components; the deflection surface on each layer are arranged to cause portions of the liquid flowing on one side of each layer to be transferred to another side of that layer and mixed with fluid flowing on the other side; and the layers are disposed adjacent to each other so that some

Abstract: A packing unit having a set of deflectors within a cage for deflecting each of two fluids moving through the unit, the deflectors being arranged so that in any image of the unit formed by parallel rays projected onto a plane, regardless of how the unit is oriented with respect to the plane, at least half of the area enclosed by the perimeter of the image will be a shaded area, no more than 35% of the shaded area being produced by surfaces of said deflectors oriented at more than 60.degree. to said rays.

Abstract: Improvement in an azeotropic distillation process, the improvement being the use of an entrainer characterized in that it is an organic compound in which one or more hydrogen atoms are replaced by halogen atoms, including at least one fluorine atom; it is miscible, under process conditions, with the organic compound being dehydrated; its volatility is sufficiently close to the volatility of the organic compound being dehydrated such that, under the process conditions, it forms an azeotrope with the organic compound; it is less miscible, under process conditions, with water than is the corresponding organic compound in which the halogen atoms are replaced with hydrogen atoms; and it is chemically stable under the process conditions.

Abstract: In fractionating tower apparatus including a plurality of modules including multi-stage segments, the improvement comprising the combination of a plurality of vaporizers for heating feed liquid to different temperatures to vaporize fractions of correspondingly different volatilities, means for feeding the vaporized fractions to different multi-stage segments of the tower, means for withdrawing liquid sidestreams from a plurality of the segments, temperature control means for limiting the level of heavy components in at least one selected liquid sidestream withdrawn from a segment below a module in which vapor is flashed, and means for separately feeding reflux liquid from at least one segment to a segment below it.

Abstract: A vapor liquid contacting apparatus having improved column throughput and mass transfer efficiency featuring, in one aspect, an overlay for dissipating vapor hole momentum and reducing vertical oscillations in the liquid vapor dispersion on the tray, and, in another aspect, an improved inlet weir.

Abstract: Gas-liquid contacting system featuring, in an SO.sub.2 scrubbing embodiment, reduced liquid entrainment which, in various aspects, eliminates the need for liquid recirculation, and permits spray regime operation increasing the ratio of SO.sub.2 absorption to sulfite oxidation. In various embodiments the entrainment is reduced by closely spaced vertical baffles above the tray, or a perforated plate or porous mesh beneath the tray.

Abstract: Vapor-liquid contacting in apparatus of the cross-flow type featuring, in various aspects, baffles extending generally in the direction of liquid flow across the tray to reduce the amplitude of small wavelength vertical liquid oscillations, increased column throughput, reduced column stage height, reduced liquid flow rate, a flow resistance at the underside of the tray to reduce pressure coupling between the underside of the tray and the main volume of vapor beneath the tray, liquid de-entrainment with an impingement type separator mounted above the tray, vapor de-entrainment with a special porous separator, an improved froth initiator, and special baffle constructions.