Mass transfer packing element and method of making the same
AssigneeSaint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics, Inc.
InventorDaniel C. Sherman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A ceramic mass transfer packing element that includes a planar end surface which intersects an internal wall's geometric plane at an acute angle is disclosed. A process for making the packing element and an apparatus that uses the packing element are also disclosed.
Claims26
A mass transfer packing element, comprising:
- (a) a continuous peripheral wall comprising a first end and a second end, wherein said peripheral wall surrounds a passageway through said element, said first end defines a first planar surface and said second end defines a second planar surface
- (b) disposed within said passageway a first internal wall defines a first geometric plane and a second internal wall defines a second geometric plane;
- wherein said first and second geometric planes are mutually parallel and intersect said first and second planar surfaces at an acute angle;
- and
- (c) said peripheral wall and said internal walls comprise ceramic material.
A process for manufacturing mass transfer packing elements comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a mixture of sinterable, ceramic materials;
- (b) extruding the mixture along a central axis to form an extrudate, said extrudate comprising a peripheral wall which surrounds a passageway therethrough, a first internal wall and a second internal wall disposed within said passageway, said first internal wall defines a first geometric plane, said second internal wall defines a second geometric plane;
- (c) dividing said extrudate into a plurality of uniformly shaped packing elements by cutting said extrudate along cutting planes which intersect said central axis at an acute angle, thereby forming a first end which defines a first planar surface and a second end which defines a second planar surface;
- wherein said first and second geometric planes intersect said first and second planar surfaces at an acute angle and said geometric planes defined by said first and second internal walls are mutually parallel;
- and
- (d) sintering said uniformly shaped packing elements.
A process for manufacturing mass transfer packing elements comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a mixture of sinterable, ceramic materials;
- (b) extruding the mixture along a central axis to form an extrudate, said extrudate comprising a peripheral wall which surrounds a passageway therethrough;
- (c) dividing said extrudate into a plurality of uniformly shaped packing elements by cutting said extrudate along cutting planes which intersect said central axis at an acute angle wherein said cutting comprises selecting a cutting member selected from the group consisting of a wire and a liquid and rapidly forcing said liquid through said extrudate.
A chemical processing apparatus comprising a vessel, said vessel comprises a first fluid entry point, a second fluid entry point, a fluid exit point and a bed of randomly oriented packing elements disposed between said first and second entry points, wherein at least a majority of said packing elements each comprise a continuous peripheral wall comprising a first end and a second end, wherein said peripheral wall surrounds a passageway through said element and said first end defines a first planar surface;
- and disposed within said passageway, a first internal wall defines a first geometric plane and a second internal wall defines a second geometric plane, said geometric planes are mutually parallel and intersects said first planar surface at an acute angle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.