Packing Column Support Profile With Low Height and Less Flow Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing support profiles for packing columns, such as T-shaped and cross profiles, result in excessive height, high costs, and inefficiencies due to coverage of flow channels, which reduces the efficiency of gas or air separation processes.
Innovation Solution
A support profile with a web section, foot section, and head section, where the head section has a trapezoidal cross-section and the web section extends vertically, providing a high moment of inertia while minimizing the concealment of fluid exit surfaces, allowing for efficient drainage and reduced overall height.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If T-shaped profiles with large height are used to achieve high moment of inertia, then the structural strength is improved, but the overall height of the packing column becomes very large
Solution Approach 1:
The support profile transitions from a T-shaped vertical extension to an I-shaped profile that utilizes horizontal dimensionality. The profile extends horizontally from the vertical support with both upward and downward flanges, distributing the load-bearing function across multiple dimensions rather than relying solely on vertical height.
2Strength
If cross profiles are used to achieve high moment of inertia, then the structural strength is improved, but the manufacturing cost and complexity increase due to expensive slot milling
Solution Approach 1:
The support profile is segmented into distinct functional zones: a vertical support section and horizontal flanges with integrated slot openings. This segmentation allows the slot openings to be directly formed as part of the profile structure rather than requiring separate milling operations on a solid cross-profile, simplifying manufacturing.
3Strength
If profiles with large width are used to achieve high moment of inertia, then the structural strength is improved, but the number of flow channels covered increases, reducing packing column efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The profile width is optimized locally rather than uniformly. The flanges have sufficient width at their edges to provide structural strength and moment of inertia, while the central region maintains minimal width to preserve flow channel accessibility. This local optimization allows the profile to achieve required structural properties without excessively covering flow channels.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a support (1) for a packing column (2), said support having a support profile (3) comprising: a web section (4) running in the vertical direction (Z) which has a first, lower end (5) and a second, upper end (6), wherein in particular, the web section (4) has a larger vertical extension than a horizontal extension; a foot section (11) with a first width (12), wherein the foot section (11) is connected to the first end (5) of the web section (4); a head section (13) which is connected to the second end (6) of the web section (4), wherein the head section (13) has an upper face (14) with a second width (15), and the head section (13) has a sub-section (17) with a third width (16), wherein the second width (15) of the upper face (14) of the head section (13) is smaller than the third width (16) of the sub-section (17) of the head section (13), and, in particular, the second width (15) of the upper face (14) of the head section (13) is smaller than the first width (12) of the foot section (11). The support according to the invention enables a reduced support height at the same time as less coverage.