US4208284A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for distribution separation processes
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1978-03-08
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Granted: 1980-06-17
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Expires: 1998-03-08
Abstract
Abstract In a process for separating miscible substances by mass transfer between two phases, at least one of which is a fluid phase (gas, vapor or liquid) and the other phase being a solid phase or a liquid phase (stationary or flowing in countercurrent with the aforesaid fluid phase, the mass transfer takes place and is substantially confined to the outside of the surface regions of the solid parts of porous material having the structure of an open pore foam, preferably substantially reticulated. This structure can be industrially reproduced in an idealized fashion in the form of interleading pores between which the solid parts are outlined in all three dimensions by concave shapes of spherical to near-spherical curvature corresponding to the outlines of densely packed phases. Column packings for chromotography, distillation, countercurrent extraction and similar process. The advantages are low pressure drops combined with high flow rates (which in the case of chromotography are advantageously in the turbulent range), low theoretical plate heights.
Inventors
- 👤 Victor Pretorius
- 👤 Hans H. Hahn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 21:22
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N30/00; G01N30/02; G01N30/50; G01N30/52; B; B01; B01D; B01D11/00; B01D11/02; B01D11/0215; B01D11/0223; B01D11/0242; B01D11/04; B01D11/0426; B01D11/043; B01D15/00; B01D15/08; B01D15/10; B01D15/18; B01D15/1807; B01J; B01J19/00; B01J19/32; G01N27/00; G01N27/26; G01N27/416; G01N27/447; G01N30/56; B01J2219/00; B01J2219/30; B01J2219/302; B01J2219/30207; B01J2219/32; B01J2219/322; B01J2219/32203; B01J2219/32206; B01J2219/32213; B01J2219/32224; B01J2219/32227; B01J2219/32231; B01J2219/32286; B01J2219/32296; G01N2030/524; G01N2030/525; G01N2030/527; G01N2030/528; G01N2030/562; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S261/00; Y10S261/72
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
234 words
A packing which comprises a porous structure having essentially the texture of an open foam composed essentially of interleading pores and skeletal surfaces outlining the pores, the porous structure in cross-section extending essentially continuously, uniformly and at least predominantly coherently across its entire three dimensions; wherein said porous structure is assembled by stacking a plurality of porous integral panels in which said texture repeatedly recurs in the two larger dimensions of each panel; wherein the faces of each panel are formed essentially by a plurality of depressions, adjoining depressions of opposite panel faces being interleading when said panels are stacked, and adjoining depressions of the same panel face also being interleading when said panels are stacked; the shape of each depression being concave facing inward toward the adjoining depressions of the opposite panel; wherein said adjoining opposed depressions form said pores when the panels are stacked; and wherein said depressions are arranged in a pattern essentially corresponding to the geometrical pattern of the peripheries of densely packed spheres; whereby each of said pores formed by the opposed concave depressions is in interleading communication with each of the pores which immediately surround it; said communication being by means of passages between said pores; and said passages being located on the surface of each pore essentially at the corresponding points at which the surrounding spheres would contact each central sphere in a densely packed sphere geomtry.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
234 words
A packing which comprises a porous structure having essentially the texture of an open foam composed essentially of interleading pores and skeletal surfaces outlining the pores, the porous structure in cross-section extending essentially continuously, uniformly and at least predominantly coherently across its entire three dimensions; wherein said porous structure is assembled by stacking a plurality of porous integral panels in which said texture repeatedly recurs in the two larger dimensions of each panel; wherein the faces of each panel are formed essentially by a plurality of depressions, adjoining depressions of opposite panel faces being interleading when said panels are stacked, and adjoining depressions of the same panel face also being interleading when said panels are stacked; the shape of each depression being concave facing inward toward the adjoining depressions of the opposite panel; wherein said adjoining opposed depressions form said pores when the panels are stacked; and wherein said depressions are arranged in a pattern essentially corresponding to the geometrical pattern of the peripheries of densely packed spheres; whereby each of said pores formed by the opposed concave depressions is in interleading communication with each of the pores which immediately surround it; said communication being by means of passages between said pores; and said passages being located on the surface of each pore essentially at the corresponding points at which the surrounding spheres would contact each central sphere in a densely packed sphere geomtry.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The packing of claim 1, wherein said concave depressions have shapes which are essentially: hemispherical to near-hemispherical; square; rhombic; or pyramidal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The packing of claim 2, wherein the shape of the concave depressions is essentially hemispherical.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The packing of claim 1, wherein said panels are stacked in immediate contact with one another.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The packing of claim 4, wherein the depressions of successive panels in stacked relationship are in matched relationship.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The packing of claim 5, wherein said concave depressions are essentially hemispherical in shape.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The packing of claim 4, wherein the depressions of successive panels are in staggered relationship.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The packing of claim 7, wherein said depressions are essentially hemispherical in shape.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The packing of claim 8, wherein the axes of said passages are perpendicular to the face of each panel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The packing of claim 1, wherein said panels form a stack with gaps between successive panels.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The packing of claim 10, wherein said concave depressions are essentially hemispherical in shape and the depressions of successive panels in stacked relationship are in matched relationship.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The packing of claim 11, wherein the axes of said passages are perpendicular to the face of each panel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The packing of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal axes of said passages extend radially from the center of each spherical pore.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The packing of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal axes of said passages are perpendicular to the face of each of said panels.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
118 words
A packing body which provides skeletal surfaces suitable as contact areas between two interacting phases, at least one of which is fluid, and flow channels between the skeletal surfaces for said fluid phase, which comprises a porous structure wherein the pores are essentially spherical in shape and extend essentially continuously and coherently in three dimensions; wherein the pores have the geometry of densely packed spheres, each pore being in communication with each of the pores immediately surrounding it; said communication being by means of passages between said pores; and said passages being located on the surface of each pore essentially at the points at which the surrounding spheres contact each central sphere in the densely packed sphere geometry.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
118 words
A packing body which provides skeletal surfaces suitable as contact areas between two interacting phases, at least one of which is fluid, and flow channels between the skeletal surfaces for said fluid phase, which comprises a porous structure wherein the pores are essentially spherical in shape and extend essentially continuously and coherently in three dimensions; wherein the pores have the geometry of densely packed spheres, each pore being in communication with each of the pores immediately surrounding it; said communication being by means of passages between said pores; and said passages being located on the surface of each pore essentially at the points at which the surrounding spheres contact each central sphere in the densely packed sphere geometry.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
Packing bodies according to claim 15 assembled in a stack to form a packing of a column.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
162 words
An apparatus for achieving mass transfer of mutually miscible substances between two fluid phases in intimate contact, in countercurrent, with one another, comprising: (a) a separation space containing the packing of claim 1 having essentially the texture of an open pore foam composed of interleading pores and skeletal surfaces outlining the pores, the pores serving as flow channels for one of said fluid phases and the skeletal surfaces serving as carrier surfaces for the other of said fluid phases, being a liquid phase, the porous structure in cross-section extending essentially continuously, uniformly and at least predominantly coherently across said entire space, said skeletal surfaces being the essential contact area between said phases for the mass transfer of the mutually miscible substances; (b) means adapted for introducing the fluid phases in countercurrent with one another and for introducing said mutually miscible substances into the space; and (c) outlet means adapted to withdraw from said space said fluid phases containing said mutually miscible substances.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
101 words
A distribution separation process of the type in which a fluid phase flows relative to a second phase through a space having defined outlines and a separation takes place by material distribution between the phases which are intimately contacted with one another along the outside and both are confined to the outside of the solid surfaces of three-dimensionally interleading pores of a porous material composed of said pores and solid parts between the pores, the fluid phase being guided through the pores along a flow pattern directed by said solid surfaces, wherein said porous material is the packing of claim 1.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-06-17 | 1983-12-17 | 1984-06-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-06-17 | 1987-12-17 | 1988-06-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-06-17 | 1991-12-17 | 1992-06-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |