US 11,014,064 B2Granted

Structured packing module for mass transfer columns

AssigneeKoch-Glitsch, LP

InventorsScott Clifford, Malcolm Talbot, Izak Nieuwoudt

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Abstract

A cross-corrugated structured packing element is provided for use in mass transfer or heat exchange columns. The packing element has a plurality of packing layers positioned in an upright, parallel relationship to each other and including corrugations formed of alternating peaks and valleys and corrugation sidewalls extending between the peaks and valleys. The packing element also includes a plurality of apertures each presenting an open area. The apertures are distributed such that the corrugation sidewalls have a greater density of open areas than any density of the open areas that may be present in the peaks and valleys. Some of the apertures may be present in the peaks and the valleys to facilitate liquid distribution. The apertures may also be placed in rows or other patterns that are aligned in a direction along a longitudinal length of the corrugations. Regions with a larger apex radius may be formed in the peaks, such as by depressing spaced-apart segments of the peaks to form spacers in the undepressed portions of the peaks. Some of the apertures may be positioned in the transitions from the depressed portions of the peaks to the unmodified apex sections.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A structured packing module comprising:

a plurality of structured packing sheets positioned in an upright, parallel relationship to each other, each structured packing sheet having corrugations formed of alternating peaks and valleys and corrugation sidewalls that extend between adjacent ones of the peaks and valleys, the structured packing sheets being constructed and arranged such that the corrugations of each one of the structured packing sheets extend at an oblique angle to the corrugations of each adjacent one of the structured packing sheets and a specific surface area of the structured packing sheets in the structured packing module is generally greater than 100 m2/m3,
wherein at least some of the peaks on a front side of each one of the structured packing sheets are in contact with the valleys on a facing back side of any adjacent one of the structured packing sheets;
and
a plurality of apertures in the structured packing sheets for allowing passage of fluid through the structured packing sheets, the apertures in each one of the structured packing sheets being open to each adjacent one of the structured packing sheets and being substantially unimpeded, the apertures being distributed in each one of the structured packing sheets such that the corrugation sidewalls have a greater density of open areas formed by the apertures than any density of any of the open areas that may be present in the peaks and valleys,
wherein said apertures are distributed to reduce a pressure drop between a top and bottom edge of the structured packing module by their placement such that a greater density of said open areas is present nearer the center lines of said corrugation sidewalls than any density of any open areas that may be present nearer to said peaks and valleys.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/966,668Filed 30 Apr 2018 · us provisional application
Priority: 2 May 2017
Published: US 2018/0318787 A18 Nov 2018
Granted: 25 May 2021
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

B01J 19/32
Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus: packing elements in the form of grids or built-up elements…
B01D 3/008
Distillation or related exchange processes in which liquids are contacted with gaseous media, e.g. stripping: liquid distribution
B01J 2219/3085
Orientation of the packing elements within the column or vessel: ordered or stacked packing elements
B01J 2219/32203
Basic shape of the elements: sheets