Patent ID: 7862013

Claim:
A ceramic packing element, comprising: a width to length ratio between 2:1 and 20:1; at least three sides; and at least three continuous passageways disposed through the element, said passageways defining at least three openings in a first of said sides and each opening occupies at least 10% of said first side's surface area, wherein said at least three sides comprise a first end which corresponds to a first side, a second end which corresponds to a second side, and a peripheral wall which corresponds to a third side and abuts said first end and said second end, said wall defining the element's maximum length and said first end defining the element's maximum width, wherein said wall and said ends cooperate to define a volume penetrated by said passageways and bounded by said wall and said ends, said element further comprising at least a first cross member and a second cross member disposed within the volume, said wall and cross members cooperating to define said passageways and wherein each opening comprises a first linear projection and a second projection extending from one of said cross members.