Back to results
US 6,547,222 B2Granted
Packing element
AssigneeKoch Knight, LLC
InventorsDavid M. Blischak, Paul I. Rufener, Phillip J. Herman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Loading patent…
Loading patent…
AssigneeKoch Knight, LLC
InventorsDavid M. Blischak, Paul I. Rufener, Phillip J. Herman
Estimating the term…
A packing element is provided for use in a mass transfer tower or a heat sink. The packing element is in the form of a saddle shaped member having a configuration generally corresponding to a portion of a toroid generated by rotating a plane closed curve about an axis that is coplanar with and spaced from the curve. The curve has inner and outer surface generating segments. The inner segment is closer to the axis than the outer segment. The outer segment is essentially w-shaped. The member has respective inner and outer surface portions which correspond in transverse cross-sectional shape to the shape of said segments. In one form of the invention, the inner segment is essentially w-shaped and complementary to said outer segment, whereby the element itself is essentially w-shaped in transverse cross-sectional configuration. In another form of the invention, the inner segment is essentially arcuate and convex relative to said axis, whereby the element itself is essentially ε-shaped in transverse cross-sectional configuration. In each of the forms of the invention, the element has shape that presents a pair of opposed end walls and an outer surface comprising a plurality of parallel, alternating ridges and grooves that extend between the end walls. In the first form of the invention, a plurality of holes pass through the ridges and grooves in a generally radial direction relative to the axis of the saddle shape. The holes facilitate drainage of liquid through a bed composed of a plurality of the elements arranged randomly on a tray of the tower.
A packing element for use in a mass transfer tower or a heat sink, said packing element comprising a saddle shaped member having a configuration generally corresponding to a portion of a toroid generated by rotating a plane closed curve about an axis that is coplanar with and spaced from the curve, said curve having inner and outer surface generating segments, said inner segment being closer to said axis than said outer segment, said outer segment being essentially w-shaped and said inner segment is essentially arcuate and convex relative to said axis, whereby said member has respective inner and outer surface portions which correspond in transverse cross-sectional shape to the shape of said segments and a pair of opposed planar end walls, said outer surface portion presenting a plurality of parallel, alternating ridges and grooves that extend between the ends walls, wherein said ridges comprise a pair of edge ridges and an intermediate ridge positioned between the edge ridges, said intermediate ridge extending outwardly at least as far as said edge ridges.
A packing element for use in a mass transfer tower or a heat sink, said packing element comprising a saddle shaped member having a configuration generally corresponding to a portion of a toroid generated by rotating a plane closed curve about an axis that is coplanar with and spaced from the curve, said curve having inner and outer surface generating segments, said inner segment being closer to said axis than said outer segment, said outer segment being essentially w-shaped and said inner segment is essentially arcuate and convex relative to said axis, whereby said member has respective inner and outer surface portions which correspond in transverse cross-sectional shape to the shape of said segments and a pair of opposed planar end walls, said outer surface portion presenting a plurality of parallel, alternating ridges and grooves that extend between the ends walls, wherein said ridges comprise a pair of edge ridges and an intermediate ridge positioned between the edge ridges.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.