Sulzer Chemtech Ag

Sulzer Management Ag

Other

Florian Kehrer

Marc Bruno Wehrli

Ilja Ausner

Hans-Peter Brack

Christian Gottlieb Bachmann

Markus Duss

Bernhard Horschitz

Curdin Flisch

Yves Torgler

A structured cross-channel packing element for a column for at least one of mass transfer and heat exchange between a heavy fluid phase and a light fluid phase. The structured cross-channel packing element comprises at least two adjacent layers made of expanded metal sheets each comprising openings that are surrounded and separated from each other by separating elements. At least two of layers are arranged in a longitudinal direction parallel and in touching contact with each other such that an open space extending from one end to an opposite end of the layers is provided between the layers such that at least one of the heavy fluid phase and the light fluid phase may flow therethrough. A ratio between an average width of at least 50% of the separating elements between adjacent ones of the openings and a sheet material thickness is at least 15.

Structured cross-channel packing element with reduced material requirement

A plant for producing a structured cross-channel packing element. The structured cross-channel packing element comprises at least two adjacent layers made of expanded metal sheets each comprising periodic deformations. The plant comprises a stretching machine configured to cut and stretch a metal sheet to form one of a plurality of first expanded metal sheets, a calibration machine configured to roll the first expanded metal sheets to a desired thickness, a sheet storage unit configured to directly receive each of the first expanded metal sheets rolled in the calibration machine, a forming machine configured to form each of the first expanded metal sheets to form the expanded metal sheets comprising periodic deformations, and a stacking machine configured to stack the expanded metal sheets comprising periodic deformations to form the structured cross-channel packing element. The sheet storage unit is configured to release the first expanded metal sheets directly to the forming machine.

Plant and process for efficiently producing a structured cross-channel packing element

A structured packing element for a column for at least one of mass transfer and heat exchange between a heavy fluid phase and a light fluid phase. The structured packing element comprises at least two layers of a grid comprising openings that are surrounded and separated from each other by separating elements. At least two of the layers are arranged in a longitudinal direction parallel and in touching contact with each other such that an open space extending from one end to an opposite end of the layers is provided between the layers such that at least one of the heavy fluid phase and the light fluid phase may flow therethrough. An average width of at least 50% of the separating elements between adjacent openings is at least 15 times a layer material thickness and is between 70% and 125% of an average hydraulic diameter of the adjacent openings.

Structured packing element with reduced material requirement

The present invention relates to a packing element for a structured packing including at least two adjacent corrugated sheets, wherein each of the corrugated sheets has a plurality of alternately oriented peaks and troughs, wherein adjacent corrugated sheets are oriented such that the corrugations of the adjacent corrugated sheets intersect in crisscross fashion with the corrugations of the corrugated sheets extending obliquely relative to the vertical direction, wherein each corrugated sheet contacts each of the adjacent corrugated sheets at points of intersection between the corrugations of the corrugated sheet and those of the adjacent corrugated sheets, wherein all corrugated sheets are tied together by means of at least one rod, wherein the at least one rod penetrates the corrugated sheets perpendicularly to the longitudinal section of the corrugated sheets, wherein on the at least one rod before the first corrugated sheet of the packing element and/or after the last corrugated sheet of the packing element at least one mounting clip is provided for fixing the corrugated sheets on the rod, wherein the mounting clip has a central part forming a coupling portion for coupling the mounting clip to the rod and two opposing lateral parts forming a clamping portion for a clamping engagement with the corrugated sheet, wherein the lateral parts are connected with the central part and angled with respect to the central part.

Packing element for a structured packing with specific mounting clips

A liquid mixing collector includes first and second sump zones, a first and optionally a second liquid collection region, first and second interspersed sets of spaced apart liquid collection channels positioned in the first liquid collection region, the first and second sets of collection channels being associated with the first and second respective sump zones, wherein adjacent liquid collection channel sets are vertically displaced in parallel horizontal planes. The invention also relates to the process of using the collector within a heat or mass transfer column.

Liquid mixing collector and a method for its use

A packing element () for use in mass and/or heat transfer processes through which at least one liquid may flow, wherein the packing element (): has an outer surface () comprising three or more outer arched rib elements () and two outer connecting edge elements (), optionally has an inner surface () comprising optional inner arched rib elements (), wherein the elementis substantially spherical or substantially ellipsoidal, and wherein the outer connecting edge elements () and the outer arched rib elements () and optional inner arched rib elements () are embodied such that the total projected area () of the packing element () when viewed in any direction (), preferably a radial direction () or optional axial direction (), is partially open due to the presence of an open projected area (), wherein it is open to an extent that ranges from about 15 to about 50, preferably about 17 to about 40, more preferably about 18 to about 35, most preferably about 20 to about 30% of the total projected area (). The invention further relates to a method for producing said element (). The present invention further relates also to a column or reactor comprising a bed of said elements (), a method to prepare said bed, and the use of the element () or column or reactor in a mass transfer and/or heat transfer process and/or in a chemical reaction.

Packing element, method to produce it and a column or reactor comprising said element

The crown element for securing a packing in a mass transfer column comprises an elongate sheet which comprises a roof element, a wall element and a bottom element. A first bending line is formed between the roof element and the wall element and a second bending line is formed between the wall element and the bottom element. Incisions are formed in the roof element and grooves are formed in the bottom element. The number of incisions is smaller than the number of grooves.

Mass transfer column and a crown element for a mass transfer column

The fine distributor for a liquid includes a primary distribution stage that has a plurality of outlet openings and a secondary distribution stage that has distribution gutters below the primary distribution stage. A mesh structure leads from the primary to the secondary distribution stage to further distribute the descending liquid laterally. One outlet opening or a group of outlet openings in the primary stage are associated with each guide mens and also a distribution gutter is associated with each guide means. Each guide means, by means of which liquid () can be directed from the at least one associated outlet opening to the secondary distribution stage, extends from the primary distribution stage to the associated distribution gutter and also through it and forms a drip edge () for the liquid supplied below the distribution gutter. Each guide means has at least partially a three-dimensional structuring and also a regular perforation. Each distribution stage is formed as a stagnation space in which a distribution of the liquid takes place with the use of a throttle means () and on the basis of a hydrodynamic balance.

Liquid distributor

The use of a cross-passage packing made of a metal fabric relates to a method in which an exchange of material and/or of heat is carried out between a liquid stream and a gas or vapour stream. The fabric packing () used is composed of vertical layers () which consist of corrugated or pleated metal fabrics () which form flow passages (). The gas or vapour stream flows in the flow passages and the liquid stream flows on the metal fabric. The flow passages of adjacent layers cross in an open manner. The angle between crossing passages is lower than approximately 100&#xb0;. In this method, the fabric packing is acted on by a relatively small liquid loading. The metal fabric forms a carrier for the liquid stream that is largely free of holes or other apertures. Values for the liquid loading are selected in accordance with the relationship L/a&#x3c;10 l/mh, where L is the specific surface loading in volume units of the liquid per surface unit of the packing cross-section, and a is the specific surface which the metal fabric spans.

Growing community of inventors

Effretikon, Switzerland

Florian Kehrer