Tower packing elements

Claim 1

Fluid-fluid contact apparatus comprising a packed bed and means for introducing fluids to said bed for contact therein in which at least a part of the bed is a dumped bed formed of packing elements each comprising a tubular member of given diameter and width having two strip portions oppositely curved with respect to a diametric symmetry plane, the ratio of the diameter of said tubular member to its width being from 2:1 - 5:1, each of said strip portions being on opposite sides of a parting plane which extends perpendicular to said symmetry plane and divides said tubular member into two equal sections, and wherein each of said strip portions includes a single additional strip portion having no free ends and being oppositely curved with respect thereto as well as oppositely curved with respect to each other, said additional strip portions extending inwardly from the inside wall of said tubular member leaving apertures therein and providing protrusions which prevent nesting of said packing elements and thus facilitate, in cooperation with said diameter to width ratio, a generally horizontal alignment of said elements with respect to one another in said bed.