STRUCTURED COLUMN PACKAGING BODY, HEAT AND/OR MASS EXCHANGE COLUMN, METHOD OF CRYOGENICALLY SEPARATING AIR AND METHOD OF PERFORMING MASS AND HEAT EXCHANGE PROCESS USING SUCH STRUCTURED COLUMN PACKING BODY

摘要

A structured packing element (1) is corrugated with corrugations (2) which form alternating peaks (3) and troughs (4) across the element (1). The element has at least one band of first fluting (5) at an angle between 0 DEG and 180 DEG to the longitudinal axis of the corrugations (2) and at least one band of second fluting (6) at an angle between 0 DEG and 180 DEG to the longitudinal axis of the corrugations (2), the first fluting (5) being at an angle greater than zero to the second fluting (6). The element (1) preferably has a plurality of holes (9) through the element. The structured packing element (1) is suitable for use in processes requiring a contact device for accomplishing mass and/or heat transfer and is particularly suited for a cryogenic air separation process.