Structured packing module for use in a mass transfer column and method of assembly

Abstract

A structured packing module for use in a mass transfer column. Corrugated sheets of structured packing in the structured packing module are held together by fasteners that extend into the corrugated sheets from opposite sides of the structured packing module at an angle of inclination or perpendicularly with respect to the sides of the structured packing module. The fasteners may have an outer surface with protrusions or indentations that resist removal of the fasteners from the structured packing sheets.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A structured packing module comprising:
 a plurality of individual structured packing sheets that are arranged sequentially in an upright, parallel relationship to each other, wherein a front face of a first one of the structured packing sheets forms one side of the structured packing module and a rear face of a last one of the structured packing sheets forms the opposite side of the structured packing module; and   fasteners that extend into the structured packing sheets from the opposite sides of the structured packing module and have an outer surface with protrusions or indentations that resist removal of the fasteners from the structured packing sheets.   
     
     
         22 . The structured packing module of  claim 21 , wherein each of the structured packing sheets is corrugated with parallel corrugations and the structured packing sheets are arranged so that the corrugations of each one of the structured packing modules extend at an oblique angle to the corrugations of the adjacent ones of the structured packing modules. 
     
     
         23 . The structured packing module of  claim 22 , wherein each of the fasteners does not extend to the opposite side of the structured packing module. 
     
     
         24 . The structured packing module of  claim 22 , wherein each of the fasteners extending from one of the sides of the structured packing module is paired with another one of the fasteners that extends from the opposite side of the structured packing module. 
     
     
         25 . The structured packing module of  claim 24 , including two of the pairs of the fasteners positioned at spaced-apart locations. 
     
     
         26 . The structured packing module of  claim 22 , wherein each of the fasteners comprises a shank extending from a head. 
     
     
         27 . The structured packing module of  claim 22 , wherein the fasteners extend into the structured packing sheets perpendicularly with respect to the sides of the structured packing module. 
     
     
         28 . The structured packing module of  claim 27 , wherein the structured packing sheets are arranged so that the structured packing module forms a six-sided polyhedron shape. 
     
     
         29 . A method of forming the structured packing module of  claim 21 , comprising:
 assembling the structured packing sheets together in a sequential arrangement in an upright, parallel relationship to each other, wherein a front face of a first one of the structured packing sheets forms one side of the structured packing module and a rear face of a last one of the structured packing sheets forms the opposite side of the structured packing module; and   inserting fasteners into the structured packing sheets from the opposite sides of the structured packing module at an angle of inclination with respect to the sides of the structured packing module.   
     
     
         30 . A structured packing module comprising:
 a plurality of individual structured packing sheets that are arranged sequentially in an upright, parallel relationship to each other,   wherein a front face of a first one of the structured packing sheets forms one side of the structured packing module and a rear face of a last one of the structured packing sheets forms the opposite side of the structured packing module,   wherein each of the structured packing sheets is corrugated with parallel corrugations and the structured packing sheets are arranged so that the corrugations of each one of the structured packing modules extend at an oblique angle to the corrugations of the adjacent ones of the structured packing modules,   wherein the structured packing sheets are arranged so that the structured packing module forms a cube, a rectangular cuboid or a parallelepiped; and   fasteners that extend into the structured packing sheets from the opposite sides of the structured packing module and have an outer surface with protrusions or indentations that resist removal of the fasteners from the structured packing sheets.   
     
     
         31 . The structured packing module of  claim 30 , wherein each of the fasteners does not extend to the opposite side of the structured packing module. 
     
     
         32 . The structured packing module of  claim 31 , wherein each of the fasteners extending from one of the sides of the structured packing module is paired with another one of the fasteners that extends from the opposite side of the structured packing module. 
     
     
         33 . The structured packing module of  claim 32 , including two of the pairs of the fasteners positioned at spaced-apart locations. 
     
     
         34 . The structured packing module of  claim 30 , wherein each of the fasteners comprises a shank extending from a head. 
     
     
         35 . The structured packing module of  claim 30 , wherein the fasteners extend into the structured packing sheets perpendicularly with respect to the sides of the structured packing module.