Packing elements for mass transfer applications
AssigneeSaint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics, Inc.
InventorsHassan S. Niknafs, Robert L. Miller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This invention provides a packing element for use in a chemical processing apparatus housing a mass transfer reaction. The packing element has lobes and channels radially disposed around a common axis and alternately spaced from one another. The lobes abut at least 60% of the circumference of the smallest circle that circumscribes the element and the channels form openings that abut no more than 40% of the circumference.
Claims35
A packing element, comprising:
- a peripheral wall defining at least three lobes and at least three channels radially disposed around a common axis and alternately spaced from one another, wherein the lobes abut at least 60% of the circumference of the smallest circle that circumscribes the wall and wherein the channels form openings that abut no more than 40% of the circumference.
A chemical processing apparatus, comprising a plurality of randomly oriented ceramic packing elements, the majority of said elements each comprising a peripheral wall defining at least three lobes and at least three channels radially disposed around a common axis and alternately spaced from one another, wherein the lobes abut at least 60% of the circumference of the smallest circle that circumscribes the wall and the channels form openings that abut no more than 40% of the circumference.
A mass transfer process comprising the step of simultaneously exposing at least two fluids to a plurality of randomly oriented ceramic packing elements wherein the majority of the elements each comprise a peripheral wall that defines at least three lobes and at least three channels radially disposed around a common axis and alternately spaced from one another wherein the lobes abut at least 60% of the circumference of the smallest circle that circumscribes the wall and the channels form openings that abut no more than 40% of the circumference.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.