Patent ID: 6558558
Filing Date: 2003-05-06
Classification: B01D,B01J

Abstract:
Apparatus for circulating a fluid from a first end to a second end, the apparatus comprising:(1) a container defined by one or more side walls and a base; (2) a tube of a flexible material divided by dividing walls of a flexible material into an array of compartments running the length of the tube, the compartments being arranged in rows and columns so that the tube divided by dividing walls has a honeycomb structure, with a first end of the tube on the base of the container and a second end of the tube above the first end of the tube; (3) first flow means at or near the first end of the tube, and either in the dividing walls between either the first and second rows and between the third and fourth rows and between each succeeding pairs of rows, or in the dividing walls between the second and third rows and between the fourth and fifth rows and between each succeeding pairs of rows; (4) second flow means at or near the second end of the tube, and either in the dividing walls between the second and third rows and between the fourth and fifth rows and between each succeeding pairs of rows, or in the dividing walls between the first and second rows and between the third and fourth rows and between each succeeding pairs of rows, so that the first flow means and the second flow means alternate; (5) a fluid inlet into the first row of compartments; and (6) a fluid outlet from the last row of compartments; so that fluid introduced through the fluid inlet flows either up or down the compartments in the first row, through the first or second flow means between the first and second rows, and then down or up the compartments in the second row, through the second or first flow means between the second and third rows, and so on until the fluid reaches the fluid outlet.