Patent ID: 6277340
Filing Date: 2001-08-21
Classification: B01J

Abstract:
Structured packing element for a fluid processing and mixing tower defining a vertical axis comprising:a sheet material element having a plurality of channels extending in an axial direction parallel to said vertical axis; anda plurality of vortex generators extending from the sheet material element in each of said channels, said channels exhibiting only a substantially tortuous fluid path formed by said vortex generators in said axial direction;the channels each having opposing axially extending lateral side walls extending from opposite edges of an intermediate axially extending connecting wall, adjacent channels having a common lateral side wall, the channels each having a corresponding intermediate connecting wall, the connecting walls of the adjacent channels lying in spaced planes to form a quasi-corrugation in a direction transverse to the axial direction of the channels, said vortex generators extending from a common lateral side wall into the adjacent channels;the lateral side walls lying in planes that are normal to the connecting wall, a first of said vortex generators in each channel extending from a first of said lateral side walls and having a first edge parallel to and adjacent to the connecting wall of that channel for precluding fluid flow therebetween at said first edge and a second edge inclined relative to the first edge and connecting wall and a second vortex generator axially spaced from the first vortex generator and extending from a second lateral side wall with a first edge parallel to and coextensive with a second connecting wall of a next adjacent channel and a second edge inclined relative to its first edge and said connecting wall.