US2290162A

US2290162A - Vapor and liquid contact apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2290162A
Application number: US373909A
Authority: US
Inventors: Leslie B Bragg
Original assignee: Foster Wheeler Inc
Current assignee: Foster Wheeler Inc
Priority date: 1941-01-10
Filing date: 1941-01-10
Publication date: 1942-07-21
Anticipated expiration: 1959-07-21

Description

July 21, 1942. l.. B. BRAGG VAPOR AND LIQUID CONTACT APPARATUS original Filed Nov. 22, 19-40 `3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 552/5 5. BRG@ BY I//f f(l ATTORNEY July 21, 1942. l.. B. BRAG'G 2,290,162

VAPOR AND LIQUID CONTACT APPARATUS Original Filed Nov. 22, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR f ATTORNEY L. B. BRAGG VAPOR AND LQUID CONTACT APPARATUS July 21, 1942.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 28 l /7'// 29 INVENTOR faz/5 5. 5R G Original Filed Nov. 22, 1940 ArToRNEY Patented July 21, 1942 azgousz vAroaANn LIQUID coNTAcT APPARATUS g Leslie B. Bragg, Scotch Plains, N. J., assignor to Foster Wheeler Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Continuation o! application Serial No. 366,611, This application January 10, 1941, Serial No. 373,909 v November 22, 1940.

20 Claims.

This invention relates to vapor and liquid contact apparatus and more particularly pertains to packing for such apparatus. ,f

The invention provides a packing unit which may be utilized in the fabrication of packing for vapor and liquid contact apparatus of any size from the' smallest size practicable to the largest.

The invention is especially applicable to packing of capillary material and will be disclosed as embodied in packing of this type, although the invention is not limited thereto, but is capable of application to different types of packing for vapor and liquid contact apparatus.

As used herein and in the claims, the expression "capillary material means a material having a plurality of spaced openings of such size that they will seal completely with the liquid being treated. Woven wire of any suitable metal or alloy is a satisfactory capillary material provided themesh openings are small enough to seal with the liquid under treatment. The capillary material may be made of other suitable materials, such as fabric, asbestos, glass, slag wool. plastics or similar substances. Materials not sufliciently rigid in themselves require structural support to sustain the packing.

The features and advantages of the invention will be understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view with -a portion in elevation, of part of a fractionating column having a capillary material packing embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view, on an enlarged scale, of a packing unit, of capillary material;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is. a sectional view on an enlarged scale, taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a plan View on an enlarged scale, of the geometrically central portion of the packing unit shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 6--6 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive are transverse sectional views of dillerent packing arrangements which may be obtained by utilizing the packing unit of the invention, and

Fig. 1l is a plan view on an enlarged scale of a portion of wire mesh packing having a pyramid pattern, showing the relationship between the warp and filling Wires and the ridges of the pyramid.

Like characters of reference refer to the same 55 each unit is turned upwardly to provide a vertior to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 6 of the drawings, reierence character l0 designates the cylindrical shell of a fractionating column having a packing of capillary material in the form of metal wire gauze provided with mesh openings which seal with the liquid under treatment. The packing comprises a plurality of contiguous equilateral triangular-shaped sections II arranged in the form of a hexagon, with each section consisting of a plurality of superposed equilateral triangular-shaped layers or units I2, all enclosed in a hexagonal-shaped casing I3 open at both ends. The casing I3 may be of any suitable construction for the purpose, but preferably is made in sections detachably secured together and supported on the shell. The upper end of the casing is arranged to provide a seal I4 with the inner wall of the shell I0. The packing may be of any suitable or desired height in the column, and is supported in any convenient manner, as by a grating I4', which is supported also from the shell by supports I4". It will be understood that the vapor to be fractionated is introduced into the lower part of the column below the packing and that liquid, as reilux or otherwise, is introduced into the upper part of the column above the packing and flows downwardly through the column from layer to layer of the packing counter-current to and in contact with the vapor iiowing upwardly through the column.

In the form shown, each unit I2 of packing is shaped or formed to provide a plurality of parallel rows of pyramids I5 with the pyramids in f adjacent rows disposed in staggered relationship, and a plurality of vapor openings I6, each at the base portion of three adjacent pyramids. The pyramids and vapor openings are substantially regularly disposed on each unit. The vapor openings are larger than the mesh openings of the metal gauze and are of suilicient size so as not to seal with the liquid under treatment. The units are all alike with respect to the pattern, or arrangement, of the pyramids and openings, and in assembling them into a packing section I I, the units are disposedv so that the vapor openings I6 are out of vertical alignment and the apices I l of the pyramids Ilif'of each unit are in vertical alignment and in contact with the points of junction I8 of each group of three adjacent pyramids on the unitnext above. To prevent the liquid ilowing downwardly through the sections from reaching the wall of the casing I3, the peripheral portion of tially the same height as the pyramids I and substantially the same inclination to the horizontal as the sides of the pyramids. The upper edge of the lip I9 will be in contact with the inner wall of the casing I3 or with the lips I9 of contiguous units.

The pattern on each unit, or the arrangement of the pyramids and vapor openings thereon, is centered with respect to the unit, in order that the units may be assembled with the apices I1 of the pyramids on one unit in engagement with the junction points I8 of the unit next above and with the vapor openings in the packing out of vertical alignment. by rotating each successive unit 120 about its geometric center with respect to the next preceding unit as it is added to the packing previously formed. To this end, the geometric center 20 of the unit is found and the three elements of the packing unit, that is. the apex of a pyramid II, the junction point I8 between three adjacent pyramids I5, and the center I5' of the vapor opening I6, are placed -equidistantly about this center at the corners oi' an equilateral triangle 2l. The size of the triangle 2| will be governed by the size of the pyramids I5. Having determined the position of the three elements of the packing, the pattern is completed by providing parallel rows of pyramids with the pyramids in each row substantially equally spaced and with the pyramids in adjacent rows staggered with respect to each other, and with the vapor openings intermediate the bases of each group of three adjacent pyramids. With the pattern thus centered on the packing unit, the packing may be fabricated readily from a plurality of these units to provide a multiplicity of substantially cubical cells extending throughout the packing. This is accomplished by starting the packing with one unit in the position of the unit I2 in Fig. 2 for example, placing a second unit upon the first unit in such position that the pattern is at an angle of 120 to the pattern of the first unit, that is to say, with the corner 23 of the second unit above the corner 22 of the rst unit, and with the points of junction I8 of the second unit in engagement with the apices I I of the pyramids of the first unit, then placing a third unit upon the second unit with its pattern at an angle of 120 to the pattern of the second unit, or with the corner 24 of the third unit above the corner 23 of the second unit, and with the points of junction I8 of the third unit in engagement with the apices II of the pyramids of the second unit, then placing a fourth unit upon the third unit with its pattern in vertical alignment with the pattern of the first unit, that is to say, with the comer 22 of the fourth unit above the corner 22 of the first unit and above the corner 2l of the third unit, and with the points of junction of the fourth unit in engagement with the apices of the pyramids of the third unit, and so on in the same order and manner until the desired height of packing is obtained. With the packing arranged in this manner, the vapor openings in every third unit only are in vertical alignment and each vapor opening is disposed immediately below and in alignment with the apex of a pyramid and is immediately above and in alignment with a point of junction I8 of three adjacent pyramids. A plurality of substantially cubical cells thus are formed throughout the packing, with each cell having a vapor inlet opening at its base and three spaced outlet openings, one

2,290,162 1 f f l" .alliy mch'ed up |9, preferably having'substanin each of the three adjacent sides forming the upper portion of the cell. Each cell thus is fed with vapor from each of three similar cells irnmediately below each cell.

The units of the packing are secured together by any suitable means, preferably by welding the apices of the pyramids on each unit to the junction points of groups of three adjacent pyramids on the adjacent unit. This may be accomplished by the welding method and apparatus disclosed in my application Serial No. 379,946, filed February 21, 1941.

Where the packing units I2 are of metal wire gauze. the pattern of pyramids preferably is die formed from a sheet of metal wire gauze after Ithe vapor openings have been stamped out of the gauze. In order to avoid breakage of the wires of the gauze during formation of the pattern and to avoid waste of the gauze, the pattern is disposed so that the rows of pyramids and vapor openings are at an acute angle to the sides of the units, as will be perceived from an inspection of Fig. 2. The angle at which the rows of pyramids are disposed to the sides of the unit, or the extent to which the pattern of the unit is rotated about the center 20 with respect to the sides of the unit, is such that the filling wires of the gauze extend at an angle to all of the ridges of the pyramids but not at a right angle or substantially at a right angle thereto. Referring to Fig. 11, the wires forming the gauze from which the packing units are made, are indicated by spaced lines. The warp wires, designated 25,r extend longitudinally of the sheet of gauze, and the filling wires, designated 26, extend transversely of the sheet. As is well known, when the gauze sheet is woven, the filling wires 26 are threaded between the warp wires and extend substantially without curvature through the gauze sheet. Thus threaded, the warp wires extend through the sheet with slight curvatures in the regions of the filling wires, in consequence of which, the gauze may be extended in a direction longitudinally of the warp wires, more than it can be extended in the direction of the filling wires without breakage of the Wires of the gauze.

In Fig. 11, the three ridges of a pyramid I5 are designated 2'I, 28 and 29. As shown, the filling wires 26 extend at acute angles to the

ridges

21 and 29 and almost parallel to the ridge 28. 'I'he warp wires 25 extend at acute angles to the

ridges

21 and 29, and at less than a right angle to the ridge 28. As shown in Fig. 11, the warp wires 25 extend at an angle of approximately '1l/2 to the side 30 of the base of the pyramid I5, although other angles may be chosen which will be satisfactory for the purpose. With the warp wires extending at an angle of '1l/2 to the sides 30 of the bases of the pyramids, the rows of pyramids on the packing units I2 will extend approximately at an angle of '7l/2 to the edges of the units as shown in Fig. 2. With the pattern thus positioned on the unit, the pyramids may be die formed from the gauze without breaking the wires thereof, and an edge of the die may be positioned in alignment with a longitudinal edge of the gauze sheet, and thereby avoid any waste of the gauze material. It will be understood that if an edge of the die had to be placed at an angle to the longitudinal edge of the gauze sheet to position the filling wires at acute angles to the ridges of the pyramids to prevent breakage of the wires, triangular pieces of the gauze material necessarily would be wasted.

With the packing units assembled into a, packlng section as previously described, and with the packing sections arranged contiguously as shown in Fig. 6 or otherwise, the operation is as follows: The vapor introduced into the column below the packing, ilows into the vapor openings I6 in the lowermost packing unit I2 and into the cells of which these openings form the inlets, and after flowing in contact with the liquid on the walls of these cells, the vapor divides and flows out the three outlet openings of each cell into the cells immediately above these outlet openings, along with vapor from the two other cells adjoining each outlet opening. In this manner, each vapor stream entering the lowermost cells is divided into three streams flowing from these cells, and each of the divided streams in flowing into the cells next above, combines and mixes with two divided streams from adjacent cells, after which this combination is divided into three streams in flowing from the said cells next above, and so on through the packing with repeated divisions, combinations and mixings. The liquid, in flowing downwardly through the packing, divides at each apex of each pyramid into three streams, one stream flowing down each side of each pyramid, each of these divided streams ows toward the two junction points adjacent the lower ends of each side of a pyramid, and there combines with liquid flowing down the side of the two adjacent pyramids adjacent the junction point, the combined streams flowing through the mesh at the junction points to the apices of the pyramids below the junction points, and again divides and flows down the sides of these pyramids. Due to the vertical inclination of the sides of the pyramids, there is a tendency for the liquid to fiow toward the edges of the units and sections, but the upturned lips atthe peripheries of the packing units prevents the liquid from reaching the casing wall or from flowing into contiguous packing sections, for the reason that the liquid will not fiow up the inclined lips and in owing from the lips it is caused to flow away from the casing wall and the edges of the units and onto the pyramids below and to be redistributed on the packing. In this manner, substantially uniform distribution of the liquid on the packing is obtained and maintained regardless of the height of the pack- Stainless steel wire gauze woven from wire .009 inch in diameter and with a 60,-40 mesh is suitable for packing units of the invention. Equilateral vtriangular units of this gauge, 6 inches on a side, with the pyramids about fifteen hundredths of an inch high and placed on centers of about of an inch with vapor openings about f; of an inch in diameter, are satisfactory for the purpose. A packing section formed of a plurality of superposed units one foot in height, is a convenient size. It will be understood that these figures are illustrative only, and are not used in a limiting sense. Wire gauge of any other suitable metal and size of wire with mesh openings which will seal with the liquid under treatment may be employed, and other sizes of pyramids and vapor openings may also be utilized.

The packing units may be employed to pack columns or towers of any diameter or flow area. Fig. 6 illustrates how the units are assembled to form a hexagonal shaped packing by utilizing six units or sections at any one elevation, One triangular section or a number of sections disposed in superposed relationship may be used, or two or three sections at the same elevation will be satisfactory in some instances.

Fig. 7 illustrates one arrangement of four sections grouped to form a packing having the transverse configuration of a parallelogram.

Fig. 8 shows a triangular-shaped packing composed of four equilateral triangular-shaped packing sections II in a cylindrical shell I0. It will be appreciated that a seal, like seal I4, is disposed at the upper end of the packing.

Fig. 9 shows a grouping of seven packing sections of irregular transverse configuration.

Fig. 10 illustrates one grouping of thirteen packing sections in a shell I0.

With packing units of capillary material embodying the invention, one set of dies only are required to produce a packing of any width and heighth, whereas without the invention, as many sets of dies would be required as there were different sizes of packing or different flow areas of columns or towers to be packed. Additionally, with packing units' of the invention, columns or towers of large diameter may be packed readily, whereas it would be practically impossible to produce capillary packing large enough to extend entirely across a. large diameter column.

The invention is not restricted to packing units having the shape of an equilateral triangle. Any other shape having a number of sides which is a multiple of three may be used, such as a hexagon. Other shapes having an even number of sides, such as a square, Octagon, etc., may be employed with satisfactory results also, although with the pyramids arranged in rows as shown in 2, and with the rows of pyramids extending at angles of sixty degrees to each other, in building up the packing from the packing units, the units should be placed with respect to each other so that the vapor openings of one unit are immediately below the apieces of the pyramids of the unit next above, designated for purposes of this description as the second unit, and the apices of the pyramids on the second unit are immediately below and in contact with the points of junction of the pyramids on the unit above the second unit, designated the third unit, and with the unit next above, or the fourth unit, placed with its pattern in alignment with the first unit and so on in the same order until the packing is completed.

The invention also is not restricted to packing of capillary material formed into pyramids as illustrated, but is applicable to any type, form or shape of capillary material for use as a packing in vapor and liquid contact apparatus.

This application is a continuation of application Serial No. 366,611, filed November 22, 1940, now abandoned. i

Inasmuch as changes may be made in the form, shape and size of packing units embodying the invention, as well as in the pattern of the units, without departing from the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention is not to be limited excepting by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: y i

1.`A packing unit for packing. for vapor and `liquid contact apparatus,y comprising a sheet of capillary material having pyramidal indentations arranged-in rows, the pyramids in each row being staggered with respect to those in adjacent rows, and vapor passages arranged in rows, the passages in each row being staggered with respect to those in adjacent rows, the.interconnecting wall portions of adjacent pyramids being adapted to provide contacts with an adjacent unit, said indentations being adapted to form with adjacent sheets cells for intimate intermingling of vapor entering the cells through the passages, the unit having a plurality of substantially straight sides disposed so that the unit may be placed contiguous to other units having substantially straight sides with contiguous sides of contiguous units parallel, the apices of the pyramids, the centers of the vapor passages and the centers of said interconnecting wall portions being located substantially at the corners of equilateral triangles having their centers substantially at the geometrical center of the unit.

2. A packing unit for packing for vapor and liquid contact apparatus, comprising a sheet of capillary material having pyramidal indentations arranged in rows, the pyramids in each row being staggered with respect to those in adjacent rows, and vapor passages arranged in rows, the passages in each row being staggered with respect to those in adjacent rows, the interconnecting wall portions of adjacent pyramids being adapted to provide contacts with an adjacent unit, said indentations being adapted to form with adjacent sheets cells for intimate intermingling' of vapor entering the cells through the passages, the unit having substantially the shape of an equilateral triangle, the apices of the pyramids, the centers of the vapor passages and the centers of said interconnecting wall portions being located substantially at the corners of equilateral triangles having their centers substantially at the geometrical center of the unit.

3. A packing unit as dened in claim 2, wherein the rows of pyramids are disposed at acute angles to the sides of the unit.

4. A packing unit for packing for vapor and liquid contact apparatus, comprising wire mesh capillary material provided with a pattern of integral raised portions having ridges and adapted to form with an adjacent unit a multiplicity of interconnected cells, and having perforations larger than the openings of the material to provide vapor passages to and from each cell, the unit having a plurality of sides disposed so that the unit may be placed contiguous to other like units with contiguous sides of contiguous units parallel, the raised portions being'disposed on the unit so that the warp and filling wires of the material extend at angles other than right angles to the ridges of the unit.

5. A packing unit for packing for vapor and liquid contact apparatus, comprising wire mesh capillary material having pyramidal indentations arranged in rows, the pyramids in each row being staggered with respect to those in adjacent rows, and vapor passages arranged in rows, the passages in each row being staggered with respect to those in adjacent rows, the interconnecting wall portions of adjacent pyramids being adapted to provide contacts with an adjacent unit, said indentations being adapted to form with adjacent sheets cells for intimate intermingling of vapor entering the cells through the passages, the unit having a plurality of sides disposed so that the unit may be placed contiguous to other like units with contiguous sides of contiguous units parallel, the pyromids being disposed on the unit so that the warp and filling wires of the material extend at angles other than right angles to the ridges of the pyramids.

6. A packing unit for packing for vapor and liquid contact apparatus, comprising wire mesh capillary material having a pattern of integral raised portions having ridges and adapted to form with adjacent units a multiplicity of interconnected cells, and having perforations larger than the openings of the material to provide vapor passages to and from each cell, the unit having a plurality of sides disposed so that the unit may be placed contiguous to other like units with contiguous sides of contiguous units parallel, the raised portions being disposed on the unit so that the filling wires of the material extend at angles other than right angles to the ridges of the unit.

7. A packing unit for packing for vapor and liquid contact apparatus, comprising wire mesh capillary material having pyramidal indentations arranged in rows, the pyramids in each row being staggered with respect to those in adjacent rows, and vapor passages arranged in rows, the passages in each row being staggered with respect to those in adjacent rows, the interconnecting wall portions of adjacent pyramids being adapted to provide contacts with an adjacent unit, said indentations being adapted to form with adjacent sheets cells for intimate intermingling of vapor entering the cells through the passages, the unit having a plurality of sides disposed so that the unit may be placed contiguous to other like units with contiguous sides of contiguous units parallel, the pyramids being disposed on the unit so that the filling wires of the material extend at angles other than right angles to the ridges of the pyramids.

8. A packing unit for packing for vapor and liquid contact apparatus, comprising wire mesh capillary material having a pattern of integral raised portions having ridges and adapted to form with adjacent units a multiplicity of interconnected cells, and having perforations larger than the openings of the material to provide vapor passages to and from each cell, the unit having a plurality of sides disposed so that the unit may be placed contiguous to other like units with contiguous sides of contiguous units parallel, one side of the unit being substantially parallel to the warp wires of the material, the raised portions being disposed on the unit so that the filling wires of the material extend at angles other than right angles to the ridges of the unit.

9. A packing unit for packing for vapor and liquid contact apparatus, comprising wire mesh capillary material having pyramidal indentations arranged in rows, the pyramids in each row being staggered with respect to those in adjacent rows, and vapor passages arranged in rows, the passages in each row being staggered with respect to those in adjacent rows, the interconnecting wall portions of adjacent pyramids being adapted to provide contacts with an adjacent unit, said indentations being adapted to form with adjacent sheets cells for intimate intermingling of vapor entering the cells through the passages, the unit having a plurality of sides disposed so that the unit may be placed contiguous to other like units with contiguous sides of contiguous units parallel, one side of the unit being substantially parallel to the warp wires of the material, the pyramids being disposed on the unit so that the warp and filling wires of the material `extend at angles other than right angles to the ridges of the pyramids.

10. A packing unit for packing for vapor and liquid contact apparatus comprising capillary material having a pattern of spaced raised portions and a plurality of vapor passages, the intercohnecting areas of adjacent raised portions being adapted. to provide contacts with an adjacent unit, said raised portions being adapted to form with adjacent packing units cells for intimate intermingling of vapor entering the cells through the passages, the apices of the raised portions, the centers of the vapor passages and the centers of said interconnecting areas being located substantially at the comers of 'equilateral triangles having their centers substantially at the geometrical center of the packing unit.

l1. A packing unit for packing for vapor and liquid contact apparatus comprising capillary material having a pattern of spaced raised portions and a plurality of vapor passages, the interconnecting areas of adjacent raised portions being adapted to provide contacts with an adjacent unit, said raised portions being adapted to form with adjacent packing units cells for intimate lntermingling of vapor entering the cells through the passages, the unit having a plurality of substantially straight sides, the apices of the raised portions, the centers of the vapor passages and the centers of said interconnecting areas being located substantially at the corners of equilateral triangles having their centers substantially at the geometrical center of the packing unit.

12. A packing unit for packing for vapor and liquid contact apparatus comprising capillary material having a pattern of spaced raised portions and a plurality of vapor passages, the interconnecting areas of adjacent raised portions being adapted to provide contacts with an adjacent unit, said raised portions being adapted to form with adjacent packing units cells for intimate intermingling of vapor entering the cells through the passages, the unit having a plurality of substantially straight sides and an upstanding lip at its periphery, the apices of the raised portions, the centers of the vapor passages and the centers of said interconnecting areas being located substantially at the corners of equilateral triangles having their centers substantially at the geometrical center of the packing unit.

13.A packing unit for packing`for vapor and liquid contact apparatus comprising capillary material having a pattern of spaced raised portions and a plurality of vapor passages, the interconnecting areas of adjacent raised portions being adapted to provide contacts with an adjacent unit, said raised portions being adapted to form with adjacent packing units cells for intimate intermingling of vapor entering the cells through the passages, the unit having an upstanding lip at its periphery, the apices of the raised portions, the centers of the vapor passages and the centers of said interconnecting areas being located substantially at the corners of equilateral triangles having their centers substantially at the geometrical center of the packing unit.

14. A packing unit for packing for vapor and liquid contact apparatus comprising capillary material having a pattern of spaced raised portions and a plurality of vapor passages, the interconnecting areas of adjacent raised portions being adapted to provide contacts with an adjacent unit, said raised portions being adapted to form with adjacent packing units cells for intimate intermingling of vapor entering the cells through the passages, the unit having substantially the shape of an equilateral triangle, the apices of the raised portions, the centers of the vapor passages and the centers of said interconnecting areas being located substantially at the corners of equilateral triangles having their 4centers substantially at the geometrical center ot the packing unit.

15. A packing unit for packing for vapor and liquid contact apparatus comprising capillary material having a pattern of spaced raised portions and a plurality of vapor passages, the interconnecting areas of adjacent raised portions being adapted to provide contacts with an adjacent unit, said raised portions being adapted to form with adjacent packing units cells for intimate intermingling of vapor entering the cells through the passages, the unit having substantiall'y the shape of an equilateral triangle and having an upstanding lip at its periphery, the apices of the raised portions, the centers of the vapor passages and the centers of said interconnecting areas being located substantially at the corners of equilateral triangles having their centers substantially at the geometrical center of the packing unit.

16. A packing unit for packing for vapor and liquid contact apparatus comprising wire mesh capillary material provided with a patternr of integral raised portions each having a ridge and adapted to form with an adjacent unit a multiplicity of interconnected cells, and having perforations larger than the openings of the material to provide vapor passages to and from each cell, the unit having a plurality of sides disposed so that the unit may be placed contiguous to other like units with contiguous sides of contiguous units parallel, the raised portions being disposed on the unit so that the warp and illling wires of the material extend at angles other than right angles to the ridges of the raised portions of the unit.

17. A packing unit for packing for vapor and liquid contact apparatus comprising wire mesh capillary material provided with a pattern of integral raised portions each having a ridge and adapted to form with an adjacent unit a. multiplicity of interconnected cells, and having perforations larger than the openings of the material to provide vapor passages to and from each cell, the unit having a plurality of sides disposed so that the unit may be placed contiguous to other like units with contiguous sides of contiguous units parallel, the raised portions being disposed on the unit so that the filling wires of the material extend at angles other than right angles to the ridges of the raised portions of the unit.

18. A packing unit for packing for vapor and liquid contact apparatus, comprising wire mesh capillary material having a pattern of integral raised portions having ridges and adapted to form with adjacent units a multiplicity of inter'- connected cells, and having perforations larger than the openings of the material to provide vapor passages to and from each cell, the unit having substantially the shape of an equilateral triangle, the raised portions being disposed on the unit so that the warp and filling wires of the material extend at angles other than right angles to the ridges oi the unit.

19. A packing unit for packing for vapor and liquid contact apparatus comprising wire mesh capillary material provided with a pattern of integral raised portions each having a ridge and adapted to form with an adjacent unit a multiplicity of interconnected cells, and having perforations larger than the openings of the material to provide vapor passages to and from each cell, the unit having the shape of an equilateral triangle, the apices of the raised portions, the centers of the vapor passages and the centers of said interconnecting areas being located substantially at the corners of equiiateral triangles having their centers substantially at the geometrical center of the packing unit, the raised portions being disposed on the unit so that the warp and lling wires of the material extend at angles other than right angles. to the ridges of the unit.

20. A packing unit for packing for vapor and liquid contact apparatus comprising wire mesh capillary material provided with a pattern of integral raised portions each having a ridge and adapted to form with an adjacent unit a multiplicity of interconnected cells, and having perforations larger than the openings of the material v warp and filling wires of the material extend at angles other than right angles to the ridges of the unit.

LESLIE B. BRAGG.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,290,162, July 21, 19m?.

l LESLIE B. BRAGG.

It is hereby certified that error appears in` the printed specification of tbe above numbered patent requiring vcorrection as follows: Page 5, first column, lines 55 and 61;., for "gauge" read --gauze; and second column, line 14.1, for "apieces" read apices; page l1., first column', line 70, claim 5, for "pyromids'I read -pyramids; page 6', second column, line 7, claim 20, strike out "portions being disposed on the unit so that the" and insert the same after "raised" in line l0, same claim; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

signed and sealed this 1st day Gf september, A. D. 19m?.

- Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.