US 2006/0048648 A1 · Parallel passage contactor structure

Abstract

An inventive improved parallel passage contactor structure demonstrating enhanced fluid flow performance is disclosed. Such improved parallel passage contactor structure may be adapted for many fluid/solid interaction processes such as catalytic gas reaction, fluid treatment, or adsorptive gas separation including pressure, temperature and partial pressure swing adsorption. Improved contactor structures according to the invention have Gas Flow Parameter values less than about 1.8E-4 Pa*s/m, which provide for enhanced process performance in applications such as adsorptive gas separation (holding other system variables constant). Some embodiments of the improved contactor structures incorporate improved mesh spacer materials having Open Volume Ratio values greater than about 85%.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A parallel passage contactor structure comprising:

at least one active material sheet layer;
and
at least one spacer material layer positioned adjacent to the at least one active material sheet layer to establish a gas flow channel adjacent to and in contact with the active material sheet layer, wherein a Gas Flow Parameter (GFP) value for the parallel passage contactor structure resulting from pressure drop testing using air as a test fluid is less than about 1.8E-4 Pa*s/m, wherein the Gas Flow Parameter (GFP) is defined by the following equation:
GFP
⁢
⁢
{
Pa
*
s
/
m
}
=
[
Pressure
⁢
⁢
drop
⁢
⁢
of
⁢
⁢
contactor
⁢
⁢
structure
]
*
[
spacer
⁢
⁢
layer
⁢
⁢
thickness
]
3
[
length
]
*
[
x
⁢
-
⁢
sectional
⁢
⁢
area
⁢
⁢
of
⁢
⁢
contactor
⁢
⁢
structure
]
*
[
gas
⁢
⁢
entrance
⁢
⁢
velocity
]

70 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Parallel passage contactor structure

Life of this patent

Parallel passage contactor structure

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15