Open mesh fill assembly

• US 4,562,015 A
• Filed: 05/22/1984
• Issued: 12/31/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Munters Corporation
• Original Assignee: Munters Corporation
• Inventors: Lefevre, Marcel R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiesa, Richard L.
• Application Number:
  US06/612,923
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• Field of Search: 261/94, 261/112, 261/DIG. 11, 261/DIG. 72, 29/157 R, 29/163.5 R, 55/240
• US Class Current: 261/94
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/32 Packing elements in the form of grids or built-up elements for forming a unit or module inside the apparatus for mass or heat transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/3221 Corrugated sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/32213 Plurality of essentially parallel sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/3222 with sheets having corrugations which intersect at an angle different from 90 degrees
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/32227 Vertical orientation
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/32289 Stretched materials
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/32408 Metal
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/32483 Plastics
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 25/087 Vertical or inclined sheets; Supports or spacers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 261/11 Cooling towers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 261/72 Packing elements

Abstract

A gas/liquid fill assembly for use in an evaporative cooling tower, chemical scrubbing apparatus or other device includes a plurality of facially-opposed corrugated sheets of material disposed in a substantially vertical, parallel relationship. The corrugations of each sheet are disposed at an angle to the horizontal with each of the corrugations extending continuously in substantially straight lines from one edge of the sheets to another edge. The corrugations in alternate sheets cross the corrugations in the sheets disposed between the alternate sheets. Adjacent corrugated sheets form channels to allow a gas and gravitating liquid to pass through the fill assembly. The sheets are formed of a foraminous material comprising an open-mesh network of interconnected webs. The interconnected webs are arranged to define a plurality of polygonally shaped openings. Each opening is symmetrically formed about an axis thereof and arranged within the sheet material so that its axis of symmetry is oriented substantially in the direction of maximum slope. The polygonally shaped openings in the sheets cause the gravitating liquid to divide around the openings and travel along the interconnecting webs whereby the liquid is distributed over the surfaces of the sheets.

Claims

1. A fill assembly adapted to effect contact between a gas and a liquid, which comprises:

a plurality of facially-opposed corrugated sheets of material disposed in a substantially vertical, parallel relationship, all of the corrugations in each of the sheets being disposed at an angle to the vertical, and each of the corrguations extending in substantially straight lines at least partially between one edge of the sheets and another edge thereof, with the corrugations in alternate sheets crossing the corrugations in the sheets disposed between the alternate sheets, adjacent corrugated sheets defining therebetween channels for the passage of a gas and gravitating liquid therethrough the liquid being urged by gravity to flow along the surfaces of the sheets in the direction of maximum slope, said sheets being formed of a foraminous material comprising an open-mesh network of interconnected webs, the interconnected webs being arranged to define a plurality of hexagonal openings with at least two opposite sides being parallel and disposed substantially in the direction of maximum slope, each opening being of sufficient size to prevent the gravitating liquid from filming thereacross, each opening being symmetrical about at least one axis thereof and arranged within the sheet material so that said at least one axis of symmetry is oriented substantially in the direction of maximum slope, wherein the hexagonal openings interrupt the natural flow of the liquid and cause the liquid to divide around the openings and flow along the interconnecting webs, whereby the liquid is distributed broadly over the surface of the sheets, wherein the direction of maximum slope is disposed at substantially an angle γ

from the vertical, and wherein the angle γ

is calculated from the following equation;

##EQU3## where γ

= the angle from the vertical of the direction of maximum slope;

α

= the fluting angle, i.e., the angle at which the corrugations are disposed from the vertical;

A= the transverse pitch of the corrugations, measured from peak to valley; and

H= the height of the corrugations, measured from peak to peak.

2. A fill assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the sheets are formed from an expanded metal.

3. A fill assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the sheets are formed from an extruded plastic.

4. A fill assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the polygonally shaped openings are longitudinally elongated in the direction of maximum slop.

5. A fill assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the corrugations are disposed at an angle from the direction of maximum slope.