Structured Packing

Abstract

An apparatus for a heat transfer or mass transfer process, comprising a column or divided column having at least one pair of converging walls or wall portions and, within at least a region of the column or divided column bounded by at least one pair of converging walls or wall portions, a structured packing having a corrugation angle of at least about 50°; a method of heat and/or mass transfer applicable to the apparatus; and a method of installation of structured packing into a relevant apparatus.

1 . An apparatus for a heat transfer or mass transfer process, comprising a column or divided column having at least one pair of converging walls or wall portions and, within at least a region of the column or divided column bounded by at least one pair of converging walls or wall portions, a structured packing having a corrugation angle of at least about 50°. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , in which the column cross-section or divided column cross-section comprises at least one corner. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one corner or angle is an internal angle or less than or equal to about 120°. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , in which the corrugation angle of the structured packing is from about 55° to about 65°. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the corrugation angle of the structured packing is about 60°. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , in which the column or divided column is a column division formed within a column having a circular cross-section by providing at least one dividing wall within the column which divides the cross-section of the column into at least two divisions such that the dividing wall converges with the wall of the column to form at least one corner. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the column size is greater than about 0.5 m in diameter, where the column is of circular cross-section, or of greater than the equivalent cross-sectional area where the cross-section is of another shape. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the mass transfer process is a cryogenic separation process in which air is separated into nitrogen-, oxygen- and argon-enriched streams. 
     
     
         9 . A method of heat and/or mass transfer, comprising supplying one or more fluids to a column or column division having at least one pair of converging walls or wall portions and which, within at least a region of the column or column division bounded by at least one pair of converging walls or wall portions, contains a structured packing having a corrugation angle of at least about 50° such that the one or more fluids contact the structured packing in order to effect heat transfer and/or mass transfer. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the column cross-section or column division cross-section comprises at least one corner. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least one corner or angle is an internal angle of less than or equal to about 120°. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the corrugation angle of the structured packing is from about 55° to about 65°. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the corrugation angle of the structured packing is about 60°. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 9 , in which the column or column division is a column division formed within a column having a circular cross-section by providing at least one dividing wall within the column which divides the cross-section of the column into at least two divisions such that the dividing wall converges with the wall of the column to form at least one corner. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the column size is greater than about 0.5 m in diameter, where the column is of circular cross-section, or of greater than the equivalent cross-sectional area where the cross-section is of another shape. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the mass transfer process is a cryogenic separation process in which air is separated into nitrogen-, oxygen- and argon-enriched streams. 
     
     
         17 . A method of installation of structured packing into an apparatus for a heat and/or mass transfer process, which apparatus comprises a column or column division having at least one pair of converging walls or wall portions, comprising the steps of:
 providing a structured packing having a corrugation angle of at least about 50°, and   installing the said structured packing into at least a region of the column or column division bounded by at least one pair of converging walls or wall portions.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the corrugation angle of the structured packing is from about 55° to about 65°. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the corrugation angle of the structured packing is 60°. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the at least one pair of converging walls or wall portions converges towards an internal angle of less than or equal to about 120°. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 17 , in which the column or column division is a column division formed within a column having a circular cross-section by providing at least one dividing wall within the column which divides the cross-section of the column into at least two divisions such that the dividing wall converges with the wall of the column to form at least one corner. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the column size is greater than about 0.5 m in diameter, where the column is of circular cross-section, or of greater than the equivalent cross-sectional area where the cross-section is of another shape. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the mass transfer process is a cryogenic separation process in which air is separated into nitrogen-, oxygen- and argon-enriched streams.