Shaped packing element

Abstract

The present invention provides a packing element comprising at least one sheet having a plurality of deformations, the sheet being operable to form a folded or helical configuration wherein adjacent portions of the at least one sheet are spaced to allow for flow of at least one of fluid, air and gas therebetween.

1 . A packing element comprising:
 at least one sheet comprising a plurality of protrusions thereon, the sheet being operable to form a folded configuration wherein adjacent portions of the at least one sheet are spaced to allow for flow of at least one of fluid, air and gas or gases therebetween.   
     
     
         2 . The packing element of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of deformations are spaced from each other at a distance that prevents nesting of adjacent portions of the at least one sheet when folded. 
     
     
         3 . The packing element of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of deformations include deformations of varying shapes to prevent nesting of adjacent portions of the at least one sheet when folded. 
     
     
         4 . The packing element of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of deformations include deformations of varying shapes that are spaced from each other at a distance that prevents nesting of adjacent portions of the at least one sheet when folded. 
     
     
         5 . The packing element of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of deformations are formed on one surface of the sheet. 
     
     
         6 . The packing element of  claim 1 , wherein both surfaces of the at least one sheet comprise a plurality of protrusions. 
     
     
         7 . The packing element of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of deformations are substantially perpendicular to at least one fold axis. 
     
     
         8 . The packing element of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sheet comprises one of: a supporting layer and a hollow semi-permeable membrane attached thereto, the hollow semi-permeable membrane being sealed at each end and side portion to define a closed channel therein, the hollow semi-permeable membrane operable to retain fluids within said closed channel; and two semi-permeable membranes separated by a spacer member and sealed at opposing ends and sides such as to form a closed channel therebetween, the two semi-permeable membranes operable to retain fluids within said closed channel. 
     
     
         9 . A method of fabricating a packing element comprising the steps of
 (i) providing at least one sheet comprising a plurality of deformations thereon; and   (ii) folding the at least one sheet to form a folded configuration.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the folded configuration is one of square, rectangular or polygonal. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising an initial step of forming at least one sheet comprising a plurality of deformations, the deformations being spaced to be operable to prevent nesting of the at least one sheet when the sheet is folded. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising an initial step of forming at least one sheet comprising a plurality of deformations, the deformations including deformations of varying shapes that are positioned to be operable to prevent nesting of the at least one sheet when the sheet is folded. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one sheet comprises one of: a supporting layer and a hollow semi-permeable membrane attached thereto, the hollow semi-permeable membrane being sealed at each end and side portion to define a closed channel therein, the hollow semi-permeable membrane operable to retain fluids within said closed channel; and two semi-permeable membranes separated by a spacer member and sealed at opposing ends and sides such as to form a closed channel therebetween, the two semi-permeable membranes operable to retain fluids within said closed channel. 
     
     
         14 . A mass transfer device comprising
 a series of packing elements, each packing element comprising at least one sheet comprising a plurality of deformations thereon, the sheet being operable to form a folded configuration wherein adjacent portions of the at least one folded sheet are spaced to allow for flow of at least one of fluid, air and gas therebetween; and   a central pipe for receiving the series of packing elements thereupon.   
     
     
         15 . The mass transfer device of  claim 14 , wherein each of the sheets of each of the packing elements is folded about the central pipe. 
     
     
         16 . The mass transfer device of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of deformations are spaced from each other at a distance that prevents nesting of adjacent portions of the at least one sheet when in the folded configuration. 
     
     
         17 . The mass transfer device of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of deformations include deformations of varying shapes to prevent nesting of adjacent portions of the at least one sheet when in the folded configuration. 
     
     
         18 . The mass transfer device of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of deformations include deformations of varying shapes that are spaced from each other at a distance that prevents nesting of adjacent portions of the at least one sheet when in the folded configuration. 
     
     
         19 . The mass transfer device of  claim 14 , further comprising an external wrap located about the exterior of the series of packing elements to form an enclosure. 
     
     
         20 . The mass transfer device of  claim 14 , further comprising a housing sized to receive the central pipe and the series of packing elements therein. 
     
     
         21 . The mass transfer device of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one sheet comprises one of: a supporting layer and a hollow semi-permeable membrane attached thereto, the hollow semi-permeable membrane being sealed at each end and side portion to define a closed channel therein, the hollow semi-permeable membrane operable to retain fluids within said closed channel; and two semi-permeable membranes separated by a spacer member and sealed at opposing ends and sides such as to form a closed channel therebetween, the two semi-permeable membranes operable to retain fluids within said closed channel. 
     
     
         22 . A substantially horizontal rotating mass transfer device comprising at least one packing element operable to rotate and comprising at least one sheet comprising a plurality of deformations thereon, the sheet being operable to form a folded configuration wherein adjacent portions of the at least one folded sheet are spaced to allow for flow of at least one of fluid and a gas or gases therebetween, the packing element being operable to pump high density liquid upwards as the packing element rotates. 
     
     
         23 . The rotating mass transfer device of  claim 22 , further comprising an enclosure located downstream from the at least one packing element, the high density fluid being operable to overflow the at least one packing element into the enclosure. 
     
     
         24 . The rotating mass transfer device of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one sheet comprises one of: a supporting layer and a hollow semi-permeable membrane, the hollow semi-permeable membrane sealed at each end and side portion to define a closed channel therein and operable to retain fluids within said closed channel; and two semi-permeable membranes separated by a spacer member and sealed at opposing ends and sides such as to form a closed channel therebetween, the two semi-permeable membranes operable to retain fluids within said closed channel.