Abstract: A contact body is disclosed, comprising at least two contact sheets having opposing surfaces and a projection extending outward from one surface of each contact sheet, wherein the projection defines a depression on the opposite surface of the contact sheet, a projection of one contact sheet being disposed within a depression of an adjacent contact sheet to form a projection-depression coupling, and the projection-depression coupling being deformed to form a positive lock. A method and apparatus of connecting contact sheets to form a contact body are also disclosed, that provide for deforming projection-depression couplings formed in two or more interlocking sheets to form positive locks by which assemblies of sheets are formed.

Abstract: The present invention includes a evaporative cooling pad and method of making the same. The cooling pad features a non-reflective, non-light transmissive surface finish incorporated directly into the cooling pad. In one embodiment, this surface finish would be a dark color, gray to black, with a non-gloss surface The coupling of this type of finish and colored sheet with the plurality of angled cross-corrugated flutes featured on the cooling pad serves the function of breaking the light source at various flute angles and attenuating the light value during its passage through the cooling pad.

Abstract: The invention relates to a packing for heat- and material-exchange columns, with a number of approximately perpendicularly arranged corrugated plates (or strips), with the side surfaces thereof lying adjacent to each other. The ribs of the above lie very close to each other and run from top to bottom, in the approximate form of an arc, whereby the ribs of two adjacent plates cross each other and the ribs in the upper region of a plate are straight and inclined to the upper, in particular, horizontal plate edge and, in the lower region of the plate, run bent in the form of an arc.

Abstract: The present invention is an indirect evaporative cooling module preferably made from extruded, twin-walled, corrugated, fluted plastic sheeting. Sheets of this corrugated material are cut into plates which are preferably laminated together to form the primary and secondary passages that comprise the heat exchanger core. These passages can be configured any number of ways, from vertical to horizontal to diagonal, and flow through these passages can be cross-flow, counter-flow and even baffle-flow. Increased heat exchange efficiency is achieved through a variety of ways, for example, by including an efficient water distribution means at the top of the heat exchanger, evaporative mesh extending through and below the heat exchanger for water distribution and pre-cooling, the creation of top and bottom heat exchange chambers by channeling water directly to the bottom zone of the heat exchanges passages, and roughening the surface of the sheets to increase heat transfer and to increase surface area.

Abstract: A layer of mixed-resistance structured packing includes: a first structured packing having a first packing resistance; and a second structured packing generally horizontally adjacent the first structured packing, the second structured packing having a second packing resistance different than the first packing resistance. The layer of mixed-resistance structured packing is used in exchange columns for exchanging heat and/or mass between a first phase and a second phase in processes such as cryogenic air separation. Use of the layer of mixed-resistance structured packing reduces HETP (height equivalent to a theoretical plate) in the exchange columns and processes. A method also is provided for assembling the layer of mixed-resistance structured packing in an exchange column.

Abstract: The invention relates to a packing sheet having straight-line kinks which divide the packing sheet into kink areas which have a width a, measured from kink edge to kink edge, and passage apertures, where a proportion X of at least 60% of the passage apertures has a separation b of at most 0.4 a from a kink edge.

Abstract: An ordered column packing—in the form of packing layers containing flow channels (2)—has a foil-like material (1) with a fine structuring (10). The foil-like material is profiled with concave structure elements (3b; minus sign −) and convex structure elements (3a; plus sign +) in an alternating arrangement. An average distance “a” exists between centers of adjacent concave and convex structure elements respectively. This average distance “a” is substantially smaller than a distance between centerlines (20) of adjacent flow passages. The foil-like material has a second fine structuring in the form of regularly arranged apertures (5). An average distance “b” between centers of adjacent apertures is smaller than the average distance “a”, preferably smaller by at least 50%; and edges (51, 52) of the apertures have in each case a shape including convex and concave locations (6a, 6b).

Abstract: The present invention provides a structured packing comprising a plurality of corrugated sheets and a plurality of flat, planar members alternating with and located between the sheets to inhibit turbulence in vapor ascending through the structured packing. The plurality of planar members are positioned so that at least the lowermost horizontal edge of the planar members and the corrugated sheets are situated proximal to one another as viewed when said structured packing is in use. When the planar members have substantially the same length and width as the corrugated sheets, the planar members and the corrugated sheets have perforations sized to inhibit transverse liquid and vapor flow while but allowing transverse pressure equalization through the structured packing. The size and number of perforations can be optimized for air separation applications.

Abstract: A packing section includes a plurality of vertically oriented, diagonally cross-corrugated packing sheets defining a section height. The section height has a base region, a bulk region, and a top region. The base region has a first particular geometry different from the geometry of the bulk region. The top region has a second particular geometry different from the geometry of the bulk region, and different from the first particular geometry of the base region.

Abstract: The invention provides an evaporative media unit for use in cooling towers, the unit providing surfaces for heat exchange between liquid and air, and including at least one cross-fluted structure composed of multi-layered, corrugated cardboard sheets forming an array of inlet openings on a first side of the structure, and an array of outlet openings on a second side of the structure substantially opposite the first side.

Abstract: A layer of mixed-resistance structured packing includes: a first structured packing having a first packing resistance; and a second structured packing generally horizontally adjacent the first structured packing, the second structured packing having a second packing resistance different than the first packing resistance. The layer of mixed-resistance structured packing is used in exchange columns for exchanging heat and/or mass between a first phase and a second phase in processes such as cryogenic air separation. Use of the layer of mixed-resistance structured packing reduces HETP (height equivalent to a theoretical plate) in the exchange columns and processes. A method also is provided for assembling the layer of mixed-resistance structured packing in an exchange column.

Abstract: A packing section includes a plurality of vertically oriented, diagonally cross-corrugated packing sheets defining a section height. The section height has a base region, a bulk region, and a top region. The base region has a first particular geometry different from the geometry of the bulk region. The top region has a second particular geometry different from the geometry of the bulk region, and different from the first particular geometry of the base region.

Abstract: The gas-liquid contact plate is constructed so that a plurality of straight rows are provided; irregularities are formed over both surfaces of the plate at equal intervals in the row; the adjacent rows have repeated irregularities opposite to each other; and in a peak or valley portion of the irregularities, there is formed an opening connecting the surface to the back surface between the adjacent rows. There is provided a gas-liquid contact plate that has high wettability, being capable of improving the gas-liquid contact efficiency, and is light in weight and advantageous in terms of manufacturing cost.

Abstract: A packing section includes a plurality of vertically oriented, diagonally cross-corrugated packing sheets defining a section height. The section height has a base region, a bulk region, and a top region. The base region has a first particular geometry different from the geometry of the bulk region. The top region has a second particular geometry different from the geometry of the bulk region, and different from the first particular geometry of the base region.

Abstract: In an vapor-liquid contactor 4a for flowing down a liquid along the surface of a packing and contacting said liquid with the vapor while ascending the vapor, the improvement being characterized in that said packing is a non-promoting-fluid-dispersion type structured packing A1, A2 in which various types of thin sheets or tubes for determining the flow direction of the above liquid or vapor is laminated and arranged in the perpendicular direction, and said contactor includes at least one fluid distribution unit E1, E2 formed of a rough distribution part C1, C2 to distribute the liquid roughly and a minute distribution part B1, B2 to distribute the liquid minutely and equally.

Abstract: A nested, expandable, compact, liquid film fill sheet bundle is provided which facilitates shipment and then installation of the sheets to present a film fill pack for use in liquid cooling apparatus. The bundle includes a plurality of shingled, nested film fill sheets each having repeating, successive, area-increasing surface patterns on opposite faces thereof which complementally nest when the sheets are in bundled, shingled relationship. The sheets which are shingled are offset from the other sheets of the bundle by an amount equal to the width of each of the successive, repeating, surface area-increasing patterns in the sheets. The nested bundle is raised as a unit to the site of the fill pack where it is installed on support structure for the fill pack. The film fill sheets are then successively and sequentially expanded while carried by the fill pack support structure by shifting either one sheet with respect to the next adjacent sheet, or by shifting adjacent sheets relative to one another.

Abstract: A gas/liquid contact media for use in an evaporative cooler has a fibrous material structure impregnated with a polymer-based continous phase designed to have solubility and interfacial tension properties that promote intimate wetting with in-service water while inhibiting scale deposition, and an overall cationic charge on the polymer to repel positively charged particles or ions in the water in order to further prevent scale build-up on the media.

Abstract: A heat transfer element assembly for a rotary regenerative air preheater for spacing the heat transfer plates to optimize performance and reduce costs. Rectangular or trapezoidal spacer tabs are punched and bend outwardly from the plates and arranged in parallel rows. The tabs have specific height and length ranges and ratios and the area of the tabs to the area of the remaining portion of the plate has a specific ratio range.

Abstract: A plurality of smaller mass transfer or exchange columns are provided within a larger column and are filled with packing to facilitate contact between fluids flowing within the smaller columns. The smaller columns are positioned in parallel and contacting relationship and preferably fill substantially the entire cross section of the larger column. At least some of the smaller columns share a common external wall. Structured packing fills the smaller columns to facilitate interaction between fluids flowing countercurrently within the smaller columns.

Abstract: A structured packing for heat exchange and mass transfer between a liquid and a gas in a column having at least one packing layer with a first, lower end and a second, upper end is described, the packing layer having an internal geometry which varies over its height so that by suitably setting the liquid and gas flow rates in a first, in particular lower, region of the packing layer a bubbling layer having a predominantly disperse gas phase forms in a targeted manner and simultaneously in a second, in particular upper, region of the packing layer a film flow of the liquid having a predominantly continuous gas phase forms in a targeted manner.

Abstract: A layer of mixed-resistance structured packing includes: a first structured packing having a first packing resistance; and a second structured packing generally horizontally adjacent the first structured packing, the second structured packing having a second packing resistance different than the first packing resistance. The layer of mixed-resistance structured packing is used in exchange columns for exchanging heat and/or mass between a first phase and a second phase in processes such as cryogenic air separation. Use of the layer of mixed-resistance structured packing reduces HETP (height equivalent to a theoretical plate) in the exchange columns and processes. A method also is provided for assembling the layer of mixed-resistance structured packing in an exchange column.

Abstract: A compact cross-channel mixer having several stacked foils is provided whereby flow channels are formed due to a special profiling of the foils, e.g., a sine wave design. The flow channels of foils that are positioned on top of each other. The stacked foils that form a mixing element are rotated about the main flow direction.

Abstract: An air treatment unit for treatment of an air stream, including a pad having a multitude of narrow air-flow channels, the walls of which are formed by corrugated sheets of a stiff material, the sheets being positioned and fixed generally in parallel planes next to each other in such a way that, as seen from an inlet side of the pad to an outlet side thereof, the channels formed by the corrugations of any two sheets located next to each other extend in two different directions the vertical plane of the respective sheet. At least in a central region of the pad, all sheets are positioned obliquely sideways, whereby all channels extend obliquely sideways relative to inlet and outlet surfaces of the pad.

Abstract: A filler body with a cross channel structure for a packing column or a static mixer apparatus. The filler body is built up of layers that border on one another in which in each case channels are arranged parallel to one another. Lateral channels which are open to one another extend at boundary surfaces between adjacent layers. These lateral channels form a cross-wise arrangement. At least a portion of the layers in each case contain central channels in addition to the lateral channels. A material separation at the boundaries between the central and the lateral channels is produced in about one half of the cases by regularly arranged wall sections. The channel boundaries in the zones of the other half are open.

Abstract: A floating structure having an oscillation angle i not more than about 10°, bears an air distilling column with corrugated criss-cross packing. The undulating configuration of the corrugated strips of at least one pack is selected such that d/i<0.6, where d is the axis deviation of the cone spreading the liquid, when each pair of adjacent strips of the pack is inclined at an angle i in its general plane.

Abstract: Novel heat exchangers and methods of constructing the heat exchangers for use in indirect evaporative cooling applications. The evaporative apparatus for cooling comprises both a multi-stage indirect evaporative cooling heat exchanger; and a multi-stage sump where each sump stage, in a one-to-one relationship. Other multistage heat exchangers with their associated multistage sumps can be combined, with the cooled air of a first multistage evaporative assembly feeding into the intake end of a second multistage evaporative assembly, and so on. These heat exchangers can be used for comfort and industrial applications cooling. The invention can be an entire assembly for the pre-cooling and cleaning of the air going to a gas turbine or any other air breathing device, with an air washer stage in which air is directly cooled by evaporation and where simultaneously the air is also cleaned of dust, dirt and other impurities.

Abstract: This column includes at least one exchange section (5, 9, 10, 11) defined between an associated upper liquid distributor (4, 6, 7, 8) and a lower fluid inlet/outlet (21, 23) or an associated lower liquid distributor (7, 8), the exchange section including an upper portion (5A, 9A) and, under it, another portion (5B, 9B, 10B, 11B) preferably of the conventional type. The upper packing portion of at least one packing section includes a packing module having less transfer units than a packing module of the conventional packing portion of the same section. Application to double columns for air distillation.

Abstract: A corrugated structured packing for forming into modules for use in a rectification column, having both high and low corrugations which reduce the contact points when formed into modules, serving to improve mass transfer effectiveness and thus reduce the requisite column height.

Abstract: A structured packing having a surface area density in the range of about 500 m2/m3 to about 675 m2/m3 includes a plurality of corrugated plates disposed in vertically parallel relation. Each plate has at least one aperture and a plurality of regularly spaced and substantially parallel corrugations disposed in crisscrossing relation to the corrugations of an adjacent plate. The apertures have an equivalent diameter of less than about 4 millimeters but greater than about 2 millimeters. The corrugations have a corrugation angle (∝) relative to horizontal in the range of about 40° to about 60°. Each corrugation, when approximated to be substantially a triangular cross-section, has an included angle (&bgr;) defined by two sides of the corrugation in the range of about 90° to about 100°. The structured packing is used in exchange columns for exchanging heat and/or mass between a first phase and a second phase in processes such as cryogenic air separation.

Abstract: A compact cross-channel mixer having several stacked foils is provided whereby flow channels are formed due to a special profiling of the foils, e.g., a sine wave design. The flow channels of foils that are positioned on top of each other. The stacked foils that form a mixing element are rotated about the main flow direction.

Abstract: A structured packing (which may or may not include a catalyst) formed from a mesh material having pore openings of less than 50 microns wherein the packing is provided with turbulence generators to promote flow of fluid through the pore openings and may be further provided with additional openings larger than the pores to improve bulk mixing.

Abstract: A packing section includes a plurality of vertically oriented, diagonally cross-corrugated packing sheets defining a section height. The section height has a base region, a bulk region, and a top region. The base region has a first particular geometry different from the geometry of the bulk region. The top region has a second particular geometry different from the geometry of the bulk region, and different from the first particular geometry of the base region.

Abstract: A corrugated structured packing for forming into modules for use in a rectification column, having a crimp pattern which is asymmetrical about a line drawn perpendicular to the centerline of the structured packing sheet and whose axial distance along the centerline from trough to adjacent peak is not evenly divided on either side of the centerline, serving to reduce pressure losses that are not efficient in promoting mass transfer and thus reducing the requisite column height.

Abstract: A cellular drift eliminator for removing mist from a mist-laden gas stream includes a plurality of blades with a spacer element interspersed between every two blades. Both the blades and spacer elements have a longitudinally undulating shape with at least one undulation transverse to the direction of travel of the stream passing through the eliminator. Each spacer element has corrugations oriented transverse to the spacer element undulation. Each corrugation has two side walls connecting a flattened apex extending from the front face of the spacer elements and a flattened valley extending from the rear face of the spacer element. Each spacer element has flat planar portions formed at its lower edge in the regions of the flattened apices and valleys of the corrugations and cut portions extending from the lower edge in the regions of the side walls of the corrugations.

Abstract: A low pressure drop, highly efficient structured packing comprises sheet material formed into vertical preferably square channels containing vortex generators formed from the sheet material. The channels, while vertically linear, are periodically interrupted by the vortex generators providing tortuous fluid paths along the channels. The thus formed vortex generators form openings between adjacent channels providing fluid communication between and uniform flow within the different channels. The packing can be utilized in fluid mixing or those operations that require multiphase mass transfer, such as absorption or distillation. The addition of a catalyst makes the structure suitable for catalytic distillation. Turbulence is provided the fluids by the tortuous vertical path with low pressure drops transversely and vertically, with optimum liquid holdup.

Abstract: A catalytic distillation packing that has continuous smooth channels over its entire length is used to change out catalyst in a catalyst distillation arrangement without replacement of packing units and long turnaround times. The long, continuous channels are formed from perforated, corrugated plates that have a sufficient thickness to maintain the geometry of the channels and permit free catalyst flow for catalyst change out. The thickness of the plates also eliminates the need for complicated bracing and attachment arrangements that adds to the expense of the packing arrangement and can obstruct the movement of catalyst therethrough. The long, continuous channels are used with an inlet arrangement that provides ready adjustment of the number of channels that are filled with catalyst and channels that are free of catalyst. It is also possible in this arrangement to operate with a channel arrangement wherein all channels are filled with catalyst.

Abstract: A splash bar for direct heat and mass transfer method and apparatus are disclosed utilizing grids of elongate splash bars which bars are arranged generally vertically and parallel with one another and wherein each splash bar includes both flat and curvilinear surfaces all of which are substantially perforated with holes. In one embodiment, the splash bar has a short first curvilinear surface that extends laterally and which changes to an extended first straight surface that in turn changes to a short second curvilinear surface which extends toward the vertical downward direction. In a second embodiment, the first straight portion is shorter and the second curvilinear surface changes to a third curvilinear surface with a reverse incline which changes to a second short straight surface which in turn changes to a fourth curvilinear surface that extends towards the vertical downward direction.

Abstract: Internal members or baffles for material exchange columns have at least one packing bed. The packing bed has at least one first packing block and at least one correction element associated with the first packing block. The first packing block and its associated correction element produce different final distributions of liquid or systematic maldistributions. The systematic maldistribution in the liquid phase caused by the first packing block is largely corrected by the systematic maldistribution of the associated correction element. Such an arrangement makes possible enhanced separation efficiency or higher packing beds.

Abstract: The present invention provides a structured packing comprising a plurality of corrugated sheets and a plurality of flat, planar members alternating with and located between the sheets to inhibit turbulence in vapor ascending through the structured packing. The plurality of planar members are positioned so that at least lowermost transverse edges of the planar members and the corrugated sheets are situated at least proximal to one another as viewed when said structured packing is in use. Each of the planar members and the corrugated sheets has perforations sized to inhibit liquid and vapor flows but to allow pressure equalization. The planar members can be strip-like and positions at or near the top and bottom transverse edges of the corrugated sheets or can have the same length and width of the corrugated sheets. The size and number of perforations can be optimized for air separation applications.

Abstract: A low pressure drop, highly efficient structured packing comprises sheet material formed into vertical preferably square channels containing vortex generators formed from the sheet material. The channels, while vertically linear, are periodically interrupted by the vortex generators providing tortuous fluid paths along the channels. The thus formed vortex generators form openings between adjacent channels providing fluid communication between and uniform flow within the different channels. The packing can be utilized in fluid mixing or those operations that require multiphase mass transfer, such as absorption or distillation. The addition of a catalyst makes the structure suitable for catalytic distillation. Turbulence is provided the fluids by the tortuous vertical path with low pressure drops transversely and vertically, with optimum liquid holdup.

Abstract: A film fill-pack has a plurality of fill-sheets with an ordered array of ridges and grooves generally extending above a planar surface on both the obverse and reverse surfaces of a fill-sheet, which fill-sheets at an assembled state provide the ridges and grooves of facing obverse and reverse surfaces of adjacent fill-sheets in an arrangement providing a plurality of channels between adjacent fill-sheets for gas flow therethrough and where the ordered arrangement of ridges and grooves induces spiraling of the gas flow through the channels for promotion of improved heat transfer; and, where the fill-sheets further include a spacing arrangement providing a compact nesting of adjacent sheets with minimal sheet-to-sheet displacement at least at two of the edges for compact handling, transfer and storage with a self-spacing of adjacent fill-sheets at assembly of the film fill-pack.

Abstract: This corrugated strip comprises on its lower edge, in front view, at least one downwardly projecting motif (9) whose contour is such that, if &agr;m and &agr;M designate the ends of the algebraic value of the angle that the tangent to the contour forms with the horizontal direction, then −&agr;m>&agr;0 and &agr;M>&agr;0, wherein &agr;0 designates a predetermined angle at least equal to 5°. The corrugated is particularly useful in air distillation columns on board floating oil platforms or barges.

Abstract: A method for operating a cryogenic rectification column for the separation of the components of air by cryogenic rectification, whereby the column may be operated above its design capacity without encountering flooding, by passing vapor upward through the column at a flowrate which generates a pressure drop within the column of at least 0.7 inches of water per foot of packing height through a height of defined structured packing sheets having a structure in their bottom portion which differs from the structure in their middle portion and is the same as the structure in their top portion.

Abstract: A film fill-pack has a plurality of fill-sheets with an ordered array of ridges and grooves generally extending above a planar surface on both the obverse and reverse surfaces of a fill-sheet, which fill-sheets at an assembled state provide the ridges and grooves of facing obverse and reverse surfaces of adjacent fill-sheets in an arrangement providing a plurality of channels between adjacent fill-sheets for gas flow therethrough and where the ordered arrangement of ridges and grooves induces spiraling of the gas flow through the channels for promotion of improved heat transfer; and, where the fill-sheets further include a spacing arrangement providing a compact nesting of adjacent sheets with minimal sheet-to-sheet displacement at least at two of the edges for compact handling, transfer and storage with a self-spacing of adjacent fill-sheets at assembly of the film fill-pack.

Abstract: Fluid—fluid contacting apparatus is provided with a structured packing comprising a series of packing elements fabricated from sheets of crimped material in such a way that the corrugations in each sheet extend obliquely with respect to the direction of bulk fluid flow through the apparatus. Each packing element is oriented with the sheets thereof in a plane which is angularly displaced with respect to the sheets of neighboring elements. A mechanism is provided at or in the vicinity of the interface between neighboring elements for reducing the pressure drop imposed on the continuous phase as it passes from one element to the next.

Abstract: A heat transfer assembly for a rotary regenerative air preheater has heat transfer plates which include means for spacing the plates apart to form flow passages and a plurality of rows of V-shaped ribs extending across the flow passages. Alternate rows of V-shaped ribs on each plate protrude outwardly from opposite surfaces of the plate. Several arrangements for aligning the ribs on one plate with the ribs on the adjacent plate are described as are alternate orientations of the adjacent rows of ribs on each plate. The relationship of the height of the ribs to the plate spacing is defined as is the relationship of the rib spacing to the rib height and the plate spacing to the length of the V-shaped rib sections.

Abstract: The material exchange column contains a packing which can be installed in the horizontal position of the column. The column has a ring gap between the packing and the column wall in which collars are arranged. The latter each comprise a band-shaped region (30) which lies in contact with the packing. At the upper edge of the band-shaped collar regions there adjoin spring-elastically connected surface pieces which produce a bridge to the wall and which are provided for a return conduction of the liquid from the wall to the packing during the operation of the column. It applies at least for some of the collars that the latter have elevations in their band-shaped regions which hold the ring gap open in a form-stable manner under the load of the packing when the column lies horizontally.