Gas and liquid contact apparatus – Contact devices – Porous mass
Patent
1995-07-17
1997-09-23
Nguyen, Khanh P.
Gas and liquid contact apparatus
Contact devices
Porous mass
261 94, 261110, 261DIG72, B01J 1930
Patent
active
056700954
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tower packing unit, and in particular to tower packing unit that may be used for liquid/gas (mist) contact apparatuses.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
The tower packing unit according to this invention is generally used in air pollution control equipment. Such equipment generally operates as a result of contact between differing phases, most significantly gas/mist and liquid. The equipment is useful for the absorption and desorption of gas, mist and the separation of solid and liquid particulates and the like, that may be emitted from effluent columns or towers.
Pollution control equipment for which the present invention is relevant in general works by offering one phase, usually a liquid, to another phase, usually a gas or mist. Effective pollution control is gained if the surface of the liquid is constantly renewed. The incorporation of a plurality of tower packing units or such like into such pollution control equipment assists in renewing fresh liquid surface. The constant renewing or offering of fresh liquid allows for the most efficient mass/heat transfer between the phases to occur, with the least expenditure of energy. The mass/heat transfer efficiency for random packing is determined more by its ability to provide fresh liquid surface, rather than total liquid surface that may be provided.
Maximum fresh liquid surface is achieved by providing the maximum number of collection, or holdup points for droplets of the liquid without significant disruption to the flow of gases/mist. A holdup point occurs where a droplet of liquid is momentarily held up when passing through the system. When a single droplet is held up, an agglomeration and mixing of droplets converging at a single hold up point, builds up the droplet until the weight of the liquid exceeds the surface tension and the droplet falls onto the next section of packing, breaking up and exposing fresh liquid surface in the process. Continuation of this process results in a continuous rejuvination of fresh liquid.
Tower packing units are used to increase the number of holdup points available within an effluent tower. The number of holdup points, particularly for a liquid stream, is to a certain extent determined by the configuration of the tower packing unit. Holdup points are usually created by filaments forming the structure of a tower packing unit, and/or nodules that intermitently project from the filaments of a particular tower packing unit. A droplet will usually form on the extremity of a particular nodule or from the filament itself.
Holdup points are also created by the interaction between a number of tower packing units. Thus a holdup point is created where two such units contact each other. Such contact, although beneficial in creating additional holdup points, creates the disadvantage of blocking the fluid flow as it allows large droplets to form and as a consequence increasing the pressure drop through the system. As a result, it is desirable to minimize contact between tower packing units.
Such tower packing materials are available in various sizes and shapes, usually designed to bring a gas or mist and a liquid, into intimate contact. Such packing material may consist of a spherical body having a lattice work jacket formed around a circular ring with extending arcuate bars, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,203,935. Another such unit is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,752,453 which describes a unit having 6 to 12 turns of a helix arranged about a circle and having the ends joined to form a torus. The helix each contain one or more projections.
The difficulty with such tower packing is to provide an item that will maximize the number of holdup points per surface area of each unit and per unit volume within a tower in order to maximize the mass and heat transfer efficiency without a substantial pressure drop being involved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to overcome or at least alleviate one or more of the di
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patent: 3752452 (1973-08-01), Doyne
patent: 4086307 (1978-04-01), Glaspie
patent: 4203935 (1980-05-01), Hackenjos
patent: 4425285 (1984-01-01), Shimoi et al.
patent: 4575435 (1986-03-01), Kuhl
"Plastic Jaeger Tri-Packs High Performance col. Packing", Product Bulletin, Aeger Products, Inc.
Baumont Jeffrey John
Higgs Julian Morris
Nath Gary M.
Nguyen Khanh P.
Southam Dennis Owen
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