MXPA00001458A - Packing element with cross-channel structure - Google Patents

Abstract

One part of the layers (10) contains central channels (21) in addition to the lateral channels (20). A material separation is formed at the boundary between the central and lateral channels with around half having regularly arranged wall pieces. The channel boundaries are open in the zones of the other half. Filler body has a cross channel structure made up of layers bordering each other, in which channels are arranged parallel to each other. Lateral channels (20) extend on boundary surfaces between the neighboring layers which are open against each other. These lateral channels form a cross-wise arrangement. One part of the layers (10) contains central channels (21) in addition to the lateral channels (20). A material separation is formed at the boundary between the central and lateral channels with around half having regularly arranged wall pieces. The channel boundaries are open in the zones of the other half. Independent claims are also included for:(a) a column containing the filler;and (b) a mixer unit comprising a pipe and a mixer structure in the form of a filler body.

Description

FILLING BODY WITH A TRANSVERSAL CHANNEL STRUCTURE DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a filling body with a transverse channel structure according to the preamble of claim 1, to a column with a filling body of this type as a package and a mixing apparatus with a filling body of this type as a structure of static mixer. The fluid mixing apparatus is known from CH-A 547 120 (= P.4566) in which the static mixer elements are constructed within a tube. An installation element of this type consists of mutually contacting layers which form a transverse channel structure with partially open flow channels. A packing body for columns is known from DE-A 26 01 890 (= P.4988) which likewise has a transverse channel structure. An exchange of material and / or heat can be carried out with a column packing of this type and in fact between a) means on surfaces of the package, in particular a corrugation film and / or a catalytically active coating, and b) a flow of gas flowing through the channels formed by the packing surfaces. If the fluid flows through mutually open transverse channels, then an interaction between the fluids in which a moment exchange takes place results in the boundary surfaces between the adjacent layers. As a result of this exchange of momentum, the turbulences arise in the channels in each case in the form of a turbulence braid (flow of translational fluid with purely implicit rotation) the core of turbulence from which the direction extends. of the Chanel. These twists of turbulence induce more secondary turbulence. The driving forces of the turbulence braids, which are given by the moment transfer, are fixed in such a way that the turbulences remain uncontrolled in the stationary state against the action of the friction forces. The turbulences also cause a mixing through the fluid, on the one hand through the exchange of material between adjacent channels, and on the other hand through an exchange of material between boundary layers and internal spaces of the channels. Since the channels are inclined, the fluid is homogenized with respect to the temperatures and concentrations on the cross section of the filling body, although this is only in the direction of the layers. The effects of homogenization and mixing are carried out at a cost of an energy dissipation that becomes noticeable as an additional flow resistance (or pressure drop). The object of the invention is therefore to create a filling body with a transverse channel structure for which the effects of homogenization and mixing are set at a reduced energy dissipation. The flow resistance in the filler body to be created should be smaller compared to the conditions in the filler bodies known as a transverse channel structure, with the separation performance of a material exchange column or the action of mixing of a static mixer respectively which remains in good condition for a long time. This object is satisfied according to the invention by the filling body which is characterized in claim 1. The filling body with a transverse channel structure is provided for a packing column or a static mixer apparatus. It is constituted by mutually limiting layers in which in each case the channels are placed parallel to each other. Side channels that are open to each other extend on the boundary surface between the adjacent layers. These lateral channels form a transverse arrangement. At least a portion of the layers contains in each case the central channels in addition to the lateral channels. A separation material in the limits in the central and lateral channels occurs approximately in half of the cases with regularly placed wall sections; in the zones of the other half the channel limits are open. The layers of the filling body according to the invention additionally comprise, in addition to the lateral channels, central channels that are only partially separated from the lateral channels by walls. The lateral channels corresponding to the channels of the known transverse channel structure in which the parallel channels of the same layer are in each case separated over their entire length by walls. In the side channels, as is already known in the transverse channel structure, the primary turbulence braids are driven by the interaction between the adjacent layers. These primary turbulence braids induce secondary turbulence braids in the center channels. Thanks to the central channels, a mixing action is carried out in a larger volume with an energy dissipation that is equally large. Since the individual layers, in contrast to the known transverse channel structure, have a high permeability between the lateral channels of both sides, these result in an additional homogenization that takes place perpendicular to the direction of the layers. The subordinate claims 2 to 7 relate to advantageous embodiments of the filling body according to the invention. The subjects of claims 8 to 10 are a column and a mixing apparatus with filling bodies of this type. The invention will now be explained with reference to the drawings. Shown are: Figure 1 a plan view of a layer of the stuffing body according to the invention, Figures 2, 3, two cross sections through the layer of Figure 1, Figure 4 an oblique view of the same layer, Figure 5 a schematic illustration of the flow rates in the filling body according to the invention, Figure 6 is a particularly advantageous geometry of the filling body layer, Figure 7, 8 an additional embodiment in an illustration corresponding to Figures 1 and 2, Figure 9 a variant of the layer of Figure 8, Figure 10 a detailed illustration of a layer of the type shown in Figure 6 and Figure 11 a schematic illustration of a column or static mixer with a filling body according to the invention. A layer 10 of filler body 1 according to the invention, see Figures 1, 4 and 11, is formed of a sheet metal sheet which is slotted in a grid shape and deformed. Instead of a sheet metal foil, a film or wire mesh can also be provided. The grooves 11 have groove edges Ia and llb extending an open surface 22 or 22 '(Fig. 4). The slots 11 have end points A, B as well as A ', B' forming a grid with triangles ABA 'and BA' B '. The metals, ceramic materials and / or plastics can be selected for the sheet metal sheet material (or, respectively, films or meshes). The filling body 1 is constituted by a large number of mutually limited layers 10 in whose channels 2 are in each case parallel to one another. The channels 2 are inclined with respect to a main flow direction. This direction is parallel to the z axis in Fig. 4. The channels 2, that is to say the lateral channels that are denoted abl es in Figure 4 on the basis of the cross sections that are located in a xy plane, extend in boundary surfaces 3 (Figs 2, 11) between adjacent layers 10. The lateral channels in each case of a triangular cross section are designated with the reference symbol 20. The side channels 20 are open to each other; they form a transversal arrangement. In addition, of the side channels 20 the layer 10 contains the central channels 21 which in each case have a rectangular cross section. A separation of material in the boundaries between the central and lateral channels 2 occurs approximately in half of the cases by wall sections placed on a regular basis; in the zones of the other half the channel limits are open. The boundary surfaces of the channels 2 are given by wall sections that are folded into a ridge shape. The crease edges or ridges 12 and 14 of these wall sections are arranged in a row form alternating on both sides of a central plane 4 of the layer 10, ie the plane x-z in Figure 4; They are parallel to this plane. In the plan view in the Figure, the ridges 12 and 14 are located forward and rearward respectively with respect to the plane of the drawing, which extends parallel to the ridges 12 and 14. The additional folding edges 13 and 15 are located in the central plane 4. The direction 5 of the channels 2 subtends an angle W to the z axis (Fig. 4) and in fact on the left side of the z axis when viewed in the y direction. In the example shown in the channel direction 5 'of' the adjacent layers 10, the angle with the z axis is subtended in the same way, but on the right side. This angle of inclination is greater than 10 ° and less than 70 °. The projection of the channel directions 5 and 5 'within the x-y plane are indicated in Fig. 4 as, arrows 50 and 50' respectively. Figures 2 and 3 show two parallel cross sections through the layer 10 corresponding to the lines II-II and III-III in Fig. 1. The positions of the surfaces of the boundary 3 of the central plane 4 are given by lines chain stitches 30 and 40. In FIG. 2 only the fold edges 12 and 14 which are located on the boundary surface 3 are recognizable, in FIG. 2 also the fold edges 13 and 15 in the center plane 4. The cross section of Figure 3 intersects the slots 11 (edges lia, llb) at the locations a, b, c and d. The flow relationships in the side channels 20 and the center channels 21 are illustrated with reference to Figure 5, which shows the cross section through two adjacent layers 10 which are located in the xy plane (cf Fig. 4) . The turbulences 51a and 51b are induced in the lateral channels 20 by the action between the flows of adjacent mutually transverse channels 2. These primary turbulences 51a and 51b induce secondary turbulence pairs 52a and 52b in the central channels 21. The regularly positioned wall sections of the channels 2 have free edges, that is to say the edges of slot Ia and llb. These edges Ia and IIb can be curved or serrated (not shown). Advantageously they are rectilinear and are located at least approximately in descending lines, that is to say on lines that are located in a vertical plane (parallel to the z-axis) and which are oriented with respect to the surface of the layer 10 in such a way that they are perpendicular to a horizontal line on this surface. This advantageous embodiment is illustrated in Figure 6. The direction of the downline is indicated there by an arrow 19. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, a triangular grid is present, like that of Figure 1. However the slots 11 terminate at distances dft and dB respectively from the angular points A (or A ') and B (or B'). As a result of these distances the horizontal bands 16 through the corner points result - see cross section in Figure 8 - instead of the fold edges 13 and 15 in Fig. 1. Instead of the "horizontal" bands 16 for example the inclined strips 16 'and 16"can also be provided as shown in Fig. 9. The geometry of a layer 10 can be characterized by the angle of inclination, the crease edge angles 12, 14 and the arrangement of the slots 11. The arrangement of the slots 11 can be defined through the distance between the angular points A and B, the distances d? and dB as well as for example two triangular angles a and ß (Fig. 7). the layer 10 may have in the vicinity of the open surface 22 in Figure 6 which is marked by a cross 220 are illustrated in Figure 10: the material boundaries of the channels 2, the channel walls are grooved, that is, they are structured with thin grooves. The grooving 17 is transverse to the descending lines (edges Ia, llb). The channel walls can also be perforated, for example, with round holes 18. Instead of a groove 17 of numerous parallel grooves, it can be an advgeously provided groove as is known from EP-A 0 190 435 (= P.5928), in which a surface structuring is formed by transverse grooves. . The filling body according to the invention does not need to be constructed uniformly of layers of the same type. The individual layers can be made of sheet metal of non-grooved sheets (or, respectively, films or meshes) which in each case have a particular waveform that are folded into a zigzag shape. In a construction of this type it is advgeous if the layers of the different types are arranged in a regular sequence, so for example in an alternative arrangement of a) layers with foil sheet metal of the type illustrated in Figures 1 to 10 and b) layers of sheet metal sheet without grooves in wave form. The stuffing body 1 according to the invention is like a rule constructed of a plurality of packing elements that are placed one on top of the other, with each element forming a packing region with layers of the same orientation and with the horizontal directions of the layers of adjacent elements that cross each other. In Figure 11 the structural construction of the filling body 1 of this type is illustrated, ie with boundary surfaces 3 of two packing elements la and Ib, which are placed in the cylindrical wall 100 of a column or a static mixer. The dotted chain lines 30 'indicate the upper edges of the boundary surfaces 3 not illustrated. The arrows 5 and 5 'indicate the channel directions of adjacent layers 10 (not shown). The arrows 6 and 7 indicate main flow directions of fluids which are conducted through the filling body 1 for the purpose of mixing and / or an exchange of material The sheet metal sheet (or, respectively, films or meshes), of layers 10 or even even single wall sections of the layers 10 can be further structured through additional slot formations and deformations so that for example smaller wall sections that are folded into a crest shape are present which are similar to the wall sections of channels 2 (See Fig. 4), although they are designed much smaller than the latter. A transverse channel structure with a fine structure of this type is known from US-A 4 710 326.

The channels 2 are illustrated in all illustrative modes as straight channels. However, they may have changes in direction, in particular in the limit zones at the upper and / or lower ends of the packing elements la and Ib in Fig. 11. In the special packaging modes a lower zone, a middle zone and a superior zone can be distinguished in the packing elements. In the zones at the edges of the packing elements the flow resistance can be reduced with respect to that of the middle zone as a result of adequate formation. Advantageous embodiments of this type are known from WO 97/16247 (= P.6765). The surfaces of the filler body according to the invention can be coated with catalytically active substances. Filling bodies of this type can be used in columns to carry. carried out reactive distillations or as catalytic carriers in exhaust gas catalysts.

Claims (10)

1. A filler body with a transverse channel structure for packing column or a static mixer apparatus, the filler body being constructed of layers that are limited to each other in which case the channels are limited parallel to each other, with side channels that they are open towards each other extending on boundary surfaces between adjacent layers and with those lateral channels forming a cross-arrangement, characterized in that at least a portion of the layers in each case contain central channels in addition to the lateral channels, with a Separation of material in the boundaries between the central and lateral channels that occurs approximately in half of the cases through wall sections placed regularly and the channel limits in the area of the other half that are open.

2. Filling body according to claim 1, characterized in that the layers are in each case formed of a sheet metal sheet that is slotted into a grid-like shape and deformed, with the channel boundaries being given by wall sections which are folded in the manner of a ridge and with the crests of those wall sections that are arranged in a row alternating on both sides of the central plane in the layer and parallel to that plane, being possible instead of the metal sheet A film or a wire mesh is provided and metals, ceramic materials and / or plastics are selected for the sheet metal sheet material respectively, the film or the mesh.

3. Filling body according to claim 2, characterized in that the individual wall sections are further structured through additional groove formations and deformations, and in particular have a fine structure.

4. Filling body according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that all the channels are inclined with respect to the main flow direction; and in that the inclination angles with respect to the main flow direction are greater than 10 ° and less than 70 °, with the mutually transverse channels in particular of adjacent layers, which are inclined opposite with respect to the main flow direction , which has angles of inclination that are almost equally large in magnitude.

5. Filling body according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the regularly placed wall sections have free edges that are rectilinear and are located at least approximately in descending lines, ie in lines that are located in a vertical plane and the direction of which is perpendicular to a horizontal line on the surface.

6. Filling body according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the channel walls are grooved or have another structure; and / or in which the channel walls are additionally perforated, for example with round holes.

7. Filling body according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the individual regularly placed layers are made of sheet metal with non-grooved sheet or, respectively, films or meshes which in each case have a waveform, in they are folded in a zigzag pattern.

8. Column with a filling body according to any one of the rei indications 1 to 7 as a packing for a material and / or heat exchange between, on the one hand, a ripple film on surfaces of the packaging and, on the other hand, a gas flow flowing through a large number of channels that are formed by the packing surfaces, it being possible for the packing surfaces to have a coating with catalytically active substances.

9. Column according to claim 8, characterized in that the filling body is composed of a plurality of packing elements that are placed one on top of the other; and in that each element forms a region of the packaging with layers oriented in a similar manner; and in that the horizontal directions of the layers of adjacent elements intersect each other.

10. Mixing apparatus comprising a tube and a static mixing structure in the form of a filling body according to any one of claims 1 to 7 which is placed in the tube, for a mixing through substances that can flow and that they flow through the tube in the same direction, it being possible for the surfaces of the mixing structure to be coated with catalytically active substances.