Nancy C Irwin

US Patent:

6475349, Nov 5, 2002

Filed:

Sep 24, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/405327

Inventors:

Kevin McKeigue - Berkeley Heights NJ
Nancy Christine Irwin - Summit NJ

Assignee:

The BOC Group, Inc. - Murray Hill NJ

International Classification:

B01D 314

US Classification:

203100, 159 431, 202158, 261 96, 261 97, 261113

Abstract:

A distillation column and method in which a plurality of beds of structured packing are provided within a column shell and are configured to contact liquid and vapor phases of the mixture to be distilled. At least one liquid redistributor is located between the beds of structured packing to redistribute the liquid of the liquid phase and an annular collector is located above the liquid distributor to direct liquid to the liquid distributor. The annular collector acs as a constriction to produce a central flow of the vapor phase which can result in decreased performance of overlying beds of structured packing. In order to overcome this potential problem, a truncated bed of structured packing is provided directly above the annular collector to promote a more uniform distribution of such central vapor flow in a transverse direction of the column shell. The truncated bed of structured packing is fabricated from layers of structured packing each having a height less than that of packing layers of overlying beds of structured packing.

US Patent:

6713158, Mar 30, 2004

Filed:

Dec 22, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/746094

Inventors:

Kevin McKeigue - Berkeley Heights NJ
Ramachandran Krishnamurthy - Chestnut Ridge NY
Nancy Irwin - Summit NJ
Hendrik Jekeli Kooijman - Tuebingen, DE

Assignee:

The BOC Group, Inc. - Murray Hill NJ

International Classification:

B32B 328

US Classification:

428184, 428137, 2611122, 261DIG 72, 62617, 62620

Abstract:

A structured packing with improved packing elements and method of using the structured packing. Each structured packing element comprises corrugated sheets and planar members alternating with and located between the corrugated sheets The planar members are positioned so that at least the lowermost horizontal edges of the planar members and the corrugated sheets are situated proximal to one another. Perforations provided in the planar members and the corrugated sheets are designed to avoid turbulent flows and bulk fluid flow across the packing element while allowing transverse pressure equalization. Different configurations of corrugated sheets may be used with the planar members to form the structured packing.

US Patent:

6751986, Jun 22, 2004

Filed:

Dec 10, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/016469

Inventors:

Nancy Christine Irwin - Summit NJ
Ramachandran Krishnamurthy - Chestnut Ridge NY
Kevin McKeigue - Berkeley Heights NJ

Assignee:

The BOG Group, Inc. - Murray Hill NY

International Classification:

F25J 100

US Classification:

62643, 428137, 428184, 261105, 62906

Abstract:

A structured packing element comprises a plurality of corrugated sheets and one planar member positioned adjacent to each of the corrugated sheets. The planar member has a top edge and a bottom edge that are at least proximally aligned with the top and bottom edges respectively of the corrugated sheets. The planar member is further characterized by a middle portion having an open area percent that is higher than the open area percents of the top and bottom portions of the planar member. The structured packing element can be used to form structured packings for distillation applications.