Distillation Column

Abstract

This distillation column comprises a cross-corrugated packing module formed from strips having corrugations that define channels ( 14 ), each channel lying between two main peaks ( 12; 10 ) and each channel having two channel legs ( 16 ) that are joined together by a top main peak ( 10; 12 ). The strip ( 2 ) comprises an inverted portion ( 22 ) which lies within the cross section of one of the channels ( 14 ) and which includes a first intermediate peak ( 26 ) oriented in the opposite direction to the top main peak ( 10; 12 ). The inverted portion ( 22 ) includes a second intermediate peak ( 28; 30 ) oriented in the direction of the top main peak ( 10; 12 ). Application to air distillation installations.

1 - 9 . (canceled)  
   
   
       10 . A distillation column comprising at least one cross-corrugated packing module comprising a plurality of strips with their channel orientations inverted from one strip to the next, the strip being made of a sheet material and being of the type comprising corrugations that form alternately first main peaks directed along a first direction and second main peaks directed along the opposite direction, the corrugations defining channels, each channel lying between two first or second adjacent main peaks forming edge peaks of the channel, and each channel having two channel legs that are joined together by a top main peak, the channels having a general orientation that is inclined to a general flow direction of the said liquid, the strip furthermore comprising at least one inverted portion which lies entirely within the cross section of one of the channels and which joins together the two channel legs, the inverted portion comprising a first intermediate peak oriented in the opposite direction to the top main peak of the channel, wherein the inverted portion furthermore includes a second intermediate peak oriented in the direction of the top main peak.  
   
   
       11 . The column of  claim 10 , wherein the inverted portion of the strip comprises a third intermediate peak oriented in the direction of the top main peak, the second and third intermediate peaks lying on either side of the first intermediate peak.  
   
   
       12 . The column of  claim 10 , wherein, seen in cross section taken perpendicular to the orientation of the channel, the inverted portion of the strip is joined at a point to each of the channel legs and in that the developed length of the channel and the developed length of the inverted portion, which are measured between the two points, are approximately identical.  
   
   
       13 . The column of  claim 11 , wherein the cross section of the inverted portion of the strip comprises a first circular arc, which forms the first intermediate peak, and second and third circular arcs, which form the second and third intermediate peaks, and in that lying between the first circular arc and each of the second and third circular arcs is an intermediate straight section of the inverted portion, which straight section is joined tangentially to the associated circular arcs.  
   
   
       14 . The column of  claim 10 , wherein the cross section of the channel of the strip comprises a main circular arc that forms the top main peak and two main straight sections which join tangentially to the main circular arc.  
   
   
       15 . The column of  claim 13 , wherein the radius of curvature of the main circular arc is equal to the sum of the radii of curvature of the first, second and third circular arcs and in that the angle between each of the intermediate straight sections and the associated main straight section is equal to the angle between the main straight sections.  
   
   
       16 . The column of  claim 10 , wherein the channel has a height which is measured between the top main peak of the channel and a plane lying between the two adjacent main peaks of the channel and in that the distance between the top main peak and the first intermediate peak is approximately equal to ⅔ times the height.  
   
   
       17 . The column of  claim 10 , wherein the strip is made of a folded metal sheet.  
   
   
       18 . A process for manufacturing a strip made of folded metal sheet, of the type comprising corrugations that form alternately first main peaks directed along a first direction and second main peaks directed along the opposite direction, the corrugations defining channels, each channel lying between two first or second adjacent main peaks forming edge peaks of the channel, and each channel having two channel legs that are joined together by a top main peak, the channels having a general orientation that is inclined to a general flow direction of the said liquid, the strip furthermore comprising at least one inverted portion which lies entirely within the cross section of one of the channels and which joins together the two channel legs, the inverted portion comprising a first intermediate peak oriented in the opposite direction to the top main peak of the channel, the inverted portion furthermore including a second intermediate peak oriented in the direction of the top main peak, wherein the process comprises the following steps: 
 a) a flat metal sheet is bent, thus forming a corrugated metal sheet comprising the channels;    b) at the location of at least one inverted portion of the strip, two slits are cut in the sheet, across a line of top main peaks; and    c) the portion located between the two slits is bent in the inverse manner to the corrugation, thus forming the inverted portion.