Abstract: In a modular plastic packing for the biological treatment of waste waters by percolation, of the type constituted by an alternate array of undulated sheets united to each other, so as to define a plurality of inclined channels, in such a way as to supply an intersecting flow of fed liquors, and in each one of said sheets the generatrices of the undulations being shaped as flat parallel crests directed in an inclined direction relatively to the plane on which the packing leans, on the surface of each sheet comprised between each pair of adjacent crests a plurality of bossages substantially flat and parallel to said supporting plane is provided.

Abstract: Metal vapor-liquid contact plates disposed in face-to-face contact with respective corrugations inclined to the horizontal across an open notional plane. The metal packing is disposed within a vapor-liquid contact column for the purpose of bringing about mass and heat transfer between liquid and vapor passing in opposite directions therethrough. The body portion of each metal plate comprises metal that has been slitted to provide both surfaces thereof with a very large number of apertures with little wasted material. The metal lands defining the apertures are, moreover, twisted and angulated. The apertures in the plates also trap liquid and expose it to the vapor stream on both sides of the metal affording self-spreading of the liquid and turbulent vapor flow therethrough. In this manner, the assembly affords optimal pressure drop characteristics, surface to vapor passage area ratio, and vapor-liquid distribution characteristics.

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: An evaporative cooling system for cooling a greenhouse uses lava rocks as the medium. The cooling system includes a grid mounted to an aperture in a wall. Lava rocks are contained in the grid. Water is dispensed on the rocks for causing evaporation. A fan located forwardly draws air through the rocks. The grid extends rearwardly of the aperture and is inclined. The water is dispensed by spray nozzles.

Abstract: Process tower vapor-liquid contact method and apparatus comprising stacks of corrugated contact plates having perforated lamella disposed therebetween. The corrugated plates are disposed in face-to-face contact with respective corrugations inclined to the horizontal and separated one from the other by a perforated sheet. The assembly affords optimal pressure drop characteristics, surficial area, vapor passage area, and vapor-liquid distribution characteristics with maximum efficiency. The sandwiched plate separating adjacent corrugated contact plates greatly increases the mass and heat transfer between the liquid and vapor phases passing thereacross by effectively segregating opposed corrugated channels and establishing a plurality of vapor-liquid contact areas positioned for engaging both vapor and liquid flow in opposed directions through the oppositely inclined corrugations of adjacent plates.

Abstract: A blank for forming a spherical filling body for material-exchange columns is formed by stamping from a strip sheet of metal series of tongue-like elements extending from a middle strip. The spherical body can be formed by bending the tongue-like elements into a curved form, then bending the middle strip to form a ring. The tongue-like elements provide a plurality of drip edges to facilitate the interaction of the liquid and the gas in the material exchange column. Additional elements can be formed with the tongue-like elements to provide additional drip edges when the filling body is assembled.

Abstract: A packing device includes a series of identical vertically corrugated streaming sheets, each streaming sheet comprising, in succession, in a direction parallel to the crests of the corrugations, at least two regions, namely a region of corrugations having a first amplitude and a region of corrugations having a smaller amplitude which are interconnected by a transition region. Each streaming sheet has an even number of regions of corrugations in phase opposition with respect to the adjacent region of corrugations and each streaming sheet has, in each transition region and in two longitudinal lateral regions a series of bosses having flat heads which project alternately from one side and the other of the streaming sheet in phase with the region of corrugations having the first amplitude which is adjacent and/or in phase opposition with respect to the adjacent region of corrugations of smaller amplitude.

Abstract: A random dumped bed is formed of packing elements each comprising a curved base and hoops which are curved oppositely to the base. The base has a liquid channel in its concave inner surface, and openings are formed in the channel to permit liquid to flow from the channel onto the convex outer surface of the base. Two hoops project unequal distances from the base to deter axial nesting of the elements and to deter preferential orientation of the elements when they are dumped in the bed. The base has elongated slots, and nesting of the hoops in these slots is avoided by providing each hoop with nonlinear side edges and a tapered shape so that its maximum width is greater than the minimum width of a slot.

Abstract: A gas/liquid fill assembly for use in an evaporative cooling tower, chemical scrubbing apparatus or other device includes a plurality of facially-opposed corrugated sheets of material disposed in a substantially vertical, parallel relationship. The corrugations of each sheet are disposed at an angle to the horizontal with each of the corrugations extending continuously in substantially straight lines from one edge of the sheets to another edge. The corrugations in alternate sheets cross the corrugations in the sheets disposed between the alternate sheets. Adjacent corrugated sheets form channels to allow a gas and gravitating liquid to pass through the fill assembly. The sheets are formed of a foraminous material comprising an open-mesh network of interconnected webs. The interconnected webs are arranged to define a plurality of polygonally shaped openings.

Abstract: An apparatus for the anaerobic filtration of waste water includes a filter of filling material through which the waste water to be treated is passed from the bottom to the top. The filter includes upper and lower superposed layers of filling material separated by an intermediate layer of material. The lower layer is in the form of an ordered arrangement of the material thereof. The upper and intermediate layers each include a loosely packed arrangement of the material thereof.

Abstract: An evaporative cooler in which a cooler pad includes a high loft body of synthetic fibers coated with a hydrophilic foam. The open nature of the pad allows air to flow freely through the pad, while the foam coating the fibers serves to wick water contacting the pad throughout the pad thus optimizing the cooling efficiency of the pad.

Abstract: Improved plastic-loop packing elements of the type comprising an approximation of a filamentous toroidal helical shape. A process and tower using the elements are also claimed.The improved packing comprises spline web means connecting adjacent loop members and a centerpost structure.

Abstract: A packing material for a packed tower through which fluids to be processed are adapted to flow in contact with each other. The packing material comprises a packing block of honeycomb structure comprising partition walls defining a multiplicity of channels which are formed in parallel to each other as fluid passages through the packing block. The packing block includes plural plane sides in which said channels are open at opposite ends thereof. At least one of these plane sides is non-orthogonal or inclined to a line of extension of the channels. This at least one non-orthogonal plane side may have a larger surface area than the rest of the plane sides of the packing block. The packing block is preferably a polyhedron having not less than eight planes sides each as viewed in elevation, so that said channels are open in non-orthogonal relation with at least two of the plane sides of the polyhedron.

Abstract: Column packing for gas-liquid contact comprises a saddle with a net-like matrix structure formed from a plurality of intersecting ribs provide substantially improved material transfer, gas permeability and reduced pressure losses.

Abstract: An apparatus for a suspension system in a vehicle provides both spring and damping characteristics in a single unit. Within a closed container that has a variable volume (similar to commonly available shock absorbers), a gas-liquid interfacial system acts under input deflection from the axle of a vehicle to provide both spring and damping characteristics. To increase the damping response time of the system, the interfacial area in contact between the gas and the liquid is increased over the ordinary cross-sectional area of the container. The gas is soluble in the liquid and preferably increases in solubility with an increase in temperature so that, as the temperature increases and the gas expands, the static condition of the container is substantially maintained by the increase in absorption of the gas into the liquid. Preferably, pentane thickened with 3% aluminum octoate and 4% oleic acid is the liquid. It is stored in an open-cell urethane foam having an average pore cell size of approximately 0.

Abstract: The packing layers are constructed with parallel bridges between which a plurality of parallel angularly disposed deflecting surfaces are connected in bannister-fashion. The packing layers can be made from flat sheet metal bodies which can be punched and bent to form the various layers.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to an annular filling member, used in a gas/liquid contact apparatus such as a gas/liquid contact tower, and comprises one or more annular ribs having arranged thereon inwardly projecting, sharp-edge configured, alternately terminating drain plates which extend over a third to four fifths of the axial dimension of the member with the remainder of the axial dimension comprising a drain web.

Abstract: Tower packing elements adapted for dumped packing and employed to effect vapor-liquid contact in vapor-liquid contact columns for the purposes of bringing about mass and heat transfer between the liquid and vapor phases. Each packing element is of the saddle variety and is arcuately formed about orthogonal notional axes. The body of the saddle comprises expanded metal; that is, metal that has been perforated, lanced, and/or expanded by stretching along oppositely oriented axes. Also disclosed are methods of forming a segmented, semi-toroidal tower packing element from metal which has been expanded, as well as from metal which has been slitted, and which is expanded at the same time as it is formed into a saddle shape. In this manner, the advantages of metal in tower dump packing can be utilized in a saddle configuration maximizing vapor-liquid contact and efficiency of the mass and heat transfer.

Abstract: A randomly dumpable self orienting or orderly stackable hollow or cellular plastic packing elements of uniformly distributed high surface area and open cells comprised of adjacent first and second hollow triangular structures angularly displaced 60.degree. relative to one another about a central axis each including inclined structural side members connected together at apexes of the triangular structure and at crossing portions of the inclined structural members of the first and second triangular structure. Each of the inclined structural side members of each triangular structure is connected to a radial structural member of a Y-shape structure located on the adjacent outer side of each of the first and second triangular structures and interconnected by a central hub about the central axis of the packing element.

Abstract: A packing (11) consists of laminated grids (a,b, . . . ) placed directly against each other. Each grid (a,b, . . . ) consists of approximately zigzag-shaped laminated strips (13-17) which run in the direction of the flow (22), are inclined towards the grid plane and are formed jointly in one piece with areal crossing points (b 18). The laminated strips (13-17) have recesses (20, 21) at the outer edges of the crossing points (18). In this way, it is achieved that the liquid phase flowing down on a laminated strip to a crossing point is directed, at least partially, across the crossing point to the adjacent laminated strip. The packing which can be produced in a simple and inexpensive way has a high specific surface and distributes the liquid on all sides transversely to the direction of the flow (22) whereby the turbulence required for the surface renewal develops at the crossing points of the grids.

Abstract: A closely coiled multilayered element ("element") for use in filtration of gases, particularly with compressed air, is disclosed, which is a coiled cylindrically-shaped packing, spiralled about a common central axis where each successive layer essentially touches the previous layer. The materials of construction of the element are polyolefins, and, preferably for compressed air, polyethylene where the molecular weight may be as low as 2.5 million. The elements do not compress, thus keeping the void volume open in normal use for trapping both entrained solids and liquids, even if the liquids are dissimilar, such as oil and water. A method for manufacturing the invention which comprises cutting individual pieces of bed packing material from a solid core is also disclosed and the process of gas purification is described.

Abstract: The packing can be used for mixing or for exchange processes in exchange columns. The packing comprises at least one group of layers perpendicular to the column axis which has deflecting surfaces connected to a central connecting bridge and which are bent outwardly of the bridge in alternating fashion to define a X-shape. The adjacent layers can be provided with outer bridges which are bent around to form hook-shape portions for engaging about an adjacent layer.The packing can be produced by simple stamping and bending steps.

Abstract: The packing is made up of layers each of which is deformed into a zig-zag shape. Each layer has contiguous rows of deflecting surfaces which are interconnected by bridges and with every other deflecting surface being stamped out so as to be bent out of the plane of the layer. The stamped out deflecting surfaces of adjacent rows are offset from one another by the width of one deflecting surface and are bent out of so far as to be parallel to the next flank.

Abstract: A packing is constructed for an apparatus for mixing or for exchange processes. The packing includes at least two zig-zag layers each of which has a number of parallel rows of substantially rectangular deflecting surfaces with alternating gaps in the inclined flanks. Bridges connect the rows of deflecting surfaces and are disposed in the troughs and at the apices of the corrugated layer.The packing can be produced by simple stamping and bending steps.

Abstract: The random or statistical packing is of hexagonal cross-section and has rectangular tongues and apertures punched out of the walls. The tongues extend towards the longitudinal axis of the packing with the opposite tongues being coplanar. The planes of the tongues are substantially parallel to the sides of the packing so that crossing channels arise for the passage of a gas. The packing has substantially the effect of a regular packing such that a satisfactory lateral distribution of liquid and gas with a relatively low pressure drop is obtained.

Abstract: A cooling tower includes a heat and mass transfer section which is formed by layers of interlocked open-celled tiles. Each tile includes a pair of corner projections and a pair of recessed portions, and the corner projections of each tile fit into and are interlocked with the recessed portions of adjacent tiles.

Abstract: A packed counter-current column in which the gas and the liquid is contacted in a column packed with layers of reproducible elements of regular polygonal section, each of which has a lower part shaped to form a nozzle by overlapping of two opposite walls of the element, which walls also form slits between themselves and the other walls, and an upper part including an arcuate or angular bend which narrows the upper part of the element. The layers may be spaced apart by from 0 to 3 times the height of a layer and superimposed or rotated in a horizontal plane relative to each other by an optional angle. The configuration introduces to the normal counter-current flow an additional conflow vortex and cross-flow motion in the elements and a turbulent motion between the layers.

Abstract: A system for promoting fluid mixing in a packed tower or the like includes a plurality of polyhedral, fluid permeable cells. The cells contain a fibrous packing material with a substantial surface area for mixing the fluids. The cells are so adapted as to be immediately disposed in interlocking relationship in the tower to prevent the fluids from flowing in channels in the tower. In a preferred embodiment, each cell has twelve corners.

Abstract: Rectangular clay tiles for a liquid cooling tower are provided with openings to increase the heat and mass transfer which is provided by the tiles. Each rectangular tile includes four side walls and inner partitions or webs which provide a plurality of vertically extending open cells. Each side wall and each partition is provided with at least one horizontal opening for each cell formed by that side wall or partition, and liquid and air can flow into or out of the cells through the openings.

Abstract: A method of making an insert comprising an elongate core having a plurality of loops disposed longitudinally therealong and angularly thereabout by taking such an insert wherein a portion of each loop lies in close proximity to a first conceptual enveloping surface and deforming the loops or displacing the loops so as to be inclined to the longitudinal axis of the core so that a greater proportion of each loop periphery is in close proximity to a second conceptual surface of smaller cross-section than said first surface. Also disclosed are inserts made in the above way and vessels incorporating such inserts.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for converting sea or other undrinkable waters to drinkable water without the use of driven or moving parts. Reliance upon gradient effects is made to effect the vaporization of, for example, sea water, followed by the condensation of the vapor to form distilled water. Gradient effects are achieved through the provision of differentials in the thermal conductivity, capillary activity, adsorptive, absorptive and/or pressure characteristics of particulate materials, or combinations of such physicals. For example, a column is packed with material graded as to its conductivity, the least thermally conductive material being nearest the cold or ambient water that is to be purified. In packing the column each successive layer of material has a greater thermal conductivity than the layer beneath it with the most conductive being at the top near the outlet arm of the column.

Abstract: Packing for fluidized bed reactors, is improved by providing alternately inclined baffles connected directly to each other or by means for connecting the said baffles into grids located in one or several levels, the said baffles forming expanding and contracting cells in the direction of the flow. The size, spacing in grids and the angle of attack of these baffles and spacing of grids are the same throughout the reactor volume when uniform distributions of the fluidizing agent and the fluidized medium are required. Alternatively, a device of this type is improved by providing variable sizes, spacing in grids, and angle of attack of these baffles and spacing of grids when specified nonuniform distributions of the flow of the fluidizing agent and the concentrations of the fluidized media are desired for particular applications.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention a catalyst packing module is provided which greatly enhances the vapour-liquid transfer rate in the overall hydrogen-liquid water isotopic exchange reaction between streams of gaseous hydrogen and liquid water. The catalyst packing module comprises alternate layers of plane sheet and corrugated sheet and is produced by rolling at least one plane sheet and at least one corrugated sheet together into a right cylinder in a jelly roll configuration. The plane sheet is a woven, knitted or felted cloth of a textile material which wicks water over its surface and the corrugated sheet is an open mesh of metal coated with a porous matrix of polytetrafluoroethylene with exposed, partially platinized carbon particles therein. This catalyst packing module maximizes the hydrophilic surface area per unit volume of packing for the vapour-liquid transfer reaction and also the surface area of the support material (carrier) for the hydrophobic catalyst.

Abstract: The packing is constructed for an exchange column and is provided with corrugated lamellae which have steep portions disposed between the various corrugations in order to accelerate the descending liquid phase between the corrugations. The steep portions are vertically arranged between adjacent corrugations or between pairs of adjacent corrugations.

Abstract: A filling for a percolating filter for biological purification of waste water includes a plurality of flexible, irregularly touching, randomly arranged plastic strips up to 8 cm in width and several meters in length twisted together and suspended from a support over the height of the filter tank. The strips may have a maximum thickness of 30-100 .mu.m and a minimum thickness of 10-60 .mu.m, varying in such thicknesses over their width. The strips may be residue edge portion cuttings severed from the production of continuously produced sheet materials.

Abstract: A packing material unit for use in liquid-gas contact apparatuses, which comprises outer and inner rings, and a plurality of pairs of arched filaments positioned side by side such that their curved outer surfaces are oriented alternately to opposite sides of the plane involving the outer and inner rings to form a plurality of circular or elliptic loops arranged about an imaginary circle which is concentric with the outer and inner rings. A connecting member is bridged between intermediate portions of each pair of the filament. A plural number of reinforcing members extend between apex portions of oppositely arched filaments of adjacent filament pairs. The connecting members and reinforcing members serve both to prevent the interlocking of adjacent packing material units and to improve mechanical strength of the unit.

Abstract: Packing consisting of a plurality of twisted strips stacked parallel to each other in an axially symmetrical arrangement. Twisting produces spirals rotating in the same sense. In addition, the strips are pleated to produce waves perpendicular to the axis of the spiral. When the packing is assembled from the spirals, the individual spirals are staggered in relation to each other to form continuous channels extending in straight lines in four axially symmetric directions. The axially symmetric directions are defined in that their projections in the horizontal plane form an angle of 90.degree. with each other and an angle .alpha. formed between the said axially symmetric directions and the axis of symmetry of the packing depends solely on the ratio of the widths of the spirals to their pitch.

Abstract: The ribbon-tube biofilter promotes bio-oxidation ahead of clarification in wastewater treatment and functions in hydraulic pumping, oxygenation, sparging, foam fractionation, aggregate formation, and passive thermal buffering. It is operated as single-pass or with recirculation, in series and(or) in parallel. The biofilter consists of a vertical tubular column containing a parallel array of thin plastic ribbons that form multiple, linear channels and serve as non-rigid support media for heterotrophic and autotrophic bacterial colonization. Wastewater and air (or oxygen) are passed through the column by gaslift and(or) mechanical pumping coupled with air eduction or oxygen injection upstream from the support media. Linear voids between ribbons are fixed by square mesh dimensions of base and top transverse mounting grids.

Abstract: A device and method for use in the catalysis of a chemical reaction having a container with a fluid inlet thereto and a fluid outlet therefrom and a plurality of catalyst bodies assembled therein.In order to enhance the mixing of reactants in the device, the catalyst bodies are randomly arranged in the container and in order to reduce resistance to flow of reactants through the device, the catalyst bodies each have a plurality of internal channels of an ordered, pre-determined size and arrangement for permitting substantially unrestricted flow of reactants therethrough.

Abstract: A packing element for a biological filter or for use in mass transfer has a plurality of trickling faces along which the liquid or gas to be treated flows. The faces are disposed on at least one rim of the element at an angle between 3.degree. and 40.degree. relative to the vertical axis of the element, and have relatively large surface areas. The apex angle of the element is about 140.degree. to about 180.degree., the height of the element being greatest at its center portion. Rounded projecting portions cause randomly introduced elements to become oriented automatically so that the vertical axis is aligned with the liquid or gas flow and the element in a horizontal position. Additionally, a ductlike member is provided at the upper edge on at least one of the at least one rims, to more effectively distribute the liquid or gas flow on the trickling faces.

Abstract: A water cooling tower includes a heat and mass transfer section which is formed from a plurality of layers of multi-cell tiles and spacers between the layers of tiles. Water flows over and downwardly through the cells of the tiles and between adjacent tiles, and air is drawn upwardly through the tower to cool the water.

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: According to the invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing a fluid contacting device according to which a single side wall of vertically continuous hollow prism-shaped elements is formed of a single sheet of metal or like material and a plurality of such sheets are regularly arranged and joined together to form the fluid contacting device. By this arrangement, assembling of the fluid contacting device is made very simple, waste of material in forming the side wall sheet can be held to the minimum and an unused portion between a column and the fluid contacting device can be eliminated whereby a fluid contacting efficiency can be improved.

Abstract: Individual high area contactors suitable for filling a rotary biological contactor and for packing a fluid column or tower are disclosed. According to this invention each of the individual contactors include a tough abrasive-resistant outer member such as perforated substantially spherical members, or cylindrical shaped outer members such as Raschig rings. This tough outer member encloses or protects a more fragile high-area internal member or reaction support member. In a preferred embodiment such as for high temperature uses or uses where the contactor would be exposed to the ultraviolet rays of the sun, the outer member is preferably made of abrasive resistant ceramic and the high-area internal member is a ceramic sponge. In certain embodiments, the outer member can be made with a rather thin shell and still maintain its strength by the use of internal ceramic sponge shaped to provide support to the outer shell.

Abstract: A mass-transfer column consisting of one or more contact zones. The contact zones are exclusively provided with packings placed in prearranged locations. In the contact zones, optimal operating conditions for the packings are created over the entire height of the contact zones in order to achieve a minimal pressure loss at a concomitant high separating efficiency. This is done by implementing a suitable gradated adaptability of the packing to the vapor and liquid loads varying over the height of the contact zones.

Abstract: This invention relates to dumped packings for use in gas/liquid contact apparatus and analogous apparatus. The dumped packings consist of a plurality of packing elements of specific configuration to provide packings with good characteristics in use. Each element consists of a generally elongate curved or polygonal base member which is substantially flat transversely but extends 90.degree. to 270.degree. about the notional axis of the curve or polygon to form an open shape extending generally in a plane perpendicular to that notional axis. The base member includes one or more elongate apertures bridged by elongate bridges integral with the base member and of opposite sense curvature. This construction gives packing elements which combine high strength with good mass transfer performance.

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: Three-dimensional exchange element for heat exchange units for gas/liquid systems which consists of filaments with a diameter of 0.1 to 2.5 mm, such filaments, which are welded together at their interlacing points, being arranged in a level plane showing equidistantly spaced hump-like projections.

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.