Structured packing and element therefor

Abstract

A low pressure drop, highly efficient structured packing comprises sheet material formed into vertical preferably square channels containing vortex generators formed from the sheet material. The channels, while vertically linear, are periodically interrupted by the vortex generators providing tortuous fluid paths along the channels. The thus formed vortex generators form openings between adjacent channels providing fluid communication between and uniform flow within the different channels. The packing can be utilized in fluid mixing or those operations that require multiphase mass transfer, such as absorption or distillation. The addition of a catalyst makes the structure suitable for catalytic distillation. Turbulence is provided the fluids by the tortuous vertical path with low pressure drops transversely and vertically, with optimum liquid holdup.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . Structured packing element for a fluid processing and mixing tower defining a vertical axis comprising: 
 a sheet material element having a plurality of channels for extending in an axial direction parallel to said vertical axis; and    a plurality of vortex generators in each said channels forming substantially a tortuous fluid path in each said channels in said axial direction.    
     
     
         2 . The packing element of    claim 1    wherein said element has a plurality of apertures therethrough for permitting fluid in each channel to flow transversely the axial direction to and from adjacent channels.  
     
     
         3 . The packing element of    claim 1    wherein the sheet material is porous and comprises sintered metallic fibers.  
     
     
         4 . The packing element of    claim 1    wherein said vortex generators are triangular.  
     
     
         5 . The packing element of    claim 1    wherein the vortex generators include a trapezoidal body segment and a tip segment.  
     
     
         6 . The packing element of    claim 1    wherein the vortex generators are rectangular and the channels are generally square when viewed in a direction along the axial direction.  
     
     
         7 . The packing element of    claim 1    wherein the channels each have opposing axially extending lateral side walls extending from an intermediate connecting wall, adjacent channels having a common lateral side wall with the connecting walls of adjacent channels lying in spaced planes to form a quasicorrugation transverse the channels, said vortex generators extending from a common lateral wall into next adjacent channels.  
     
     
         8 . The packing element of    claim 7    including a vortex generator extending from a connecting wall into the corresponding channel wherein the vortex generators in a channel are arranged to form a non-linear continuous fluid flow path along the channel length.  
     
     
         9 . The packing element of    claim 7    wherein the side walls are normal to the connecting wall, a first of said vortex generators in each channel extending from a first side wall 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 in said direction 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.  
     
     
         10 . The packing element of    claim 8    wherein the vortex generators are generally triangular with a tip adjacent to the lateral side wall opposite said common wall for effecting liquid transfer from a region at the tip to the opposite side wall.  
     
     
         11 . The packing element of    claim 1    including a plurality of said elements secured together to form an array of like axially extending parallel channels, said array extending transversely the axial direction.  
     
     
         12 . The packing element of    claim 1    wherein said vortex generators in each channel each have a portion thereof overlying one another in the axial direction and substantially enclose each channel when viewed in the axial direction.  
     
     
         13 . The packing element of    claim 2    including a plurality of said elements secured to form a two dimensional array of like axially extending parallel channels, said array extending transversely the axial direction, the vortex generators having overlying portions, said generators each having a body portion and a tip portion, said tip portion corresponding to and for passing through an aperture.  
     
     
         14 . The packing element of    claim 3    including a catalytic material attached to said element.  
     
     
         15 . A packing structure for a fluid processing and mixing tower defining a vertical axis comprising: 
 a plurality of sheet material elements, each element having a plurality of channels for extending in an axial direction parallel to said vertical axis, said elements being secured in abutting side by side relation to form an array of annularly enclosed interior channels; and    a plurality of axially spaced vortex generators in each said channels forming solely a tortuous fluid path in each said channels in said axial direction.    
     
     
         16 . The structure of    claim 15    wherein the vortex generators each have a portion thereof in overlying relation in the axial direction for substantially blocking linear fluid flow in the axial direction  
     
     
         17 . The structure of    claim 15    including a plurality of apertures in each said elements for providing fluid coupling between adjacent channels.  
     
     
         18 . The structure of    claim 17    wherein said channels have planar sides and have sides normal to an intermediate wall, the vortex generators being integral one piece with said sheet material and forming said apertures.  
     
     
         19 . The packing element of    claim 15    including a catalytic material attached to said element, said element comprising porous metallic fibrous material.  
     
     
         20 . A packing structure for a fluid processing and mixing tower defining a vertical axis comprising: 
 a plurality of porous sheet material elements, each element having a plurality of channels extending in an axial direction parallel to said vertical axis, said material normally precluding fluid communication between adjacent channels regardless the presence of pores in said material, said elements being secured in abutting side by side relation to form an array of annularly enclosed interior channels, said elements having openings therethrough for providing transverse fluid communication among said channels; and    a plurality of axially spaced vortex generators in each said channels.    
     
     
         21 . The structure of    claim 20    wherein said vortex generators are arranged in each channel for forming substantially a tortuous fluid path in each said channels in said axial direction.