Parallel Sheet Packing with Sandwiching Support Structure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gas-liquid contact packings face challenges such as increased manufacturing costs, weight, and energy inefficiency due to structural weaknesses and complex gas flow paths, which lead to deformation, pressure loss, and reduced gas-liquid contact areas.

Innovation Solution

A packing design featuring sheet materials arranged in parallel with strategically positioned support members, including pair of support walls and bridging parts, to form a sandwiching structure that maintains the sheet materials' integrity and reduces pressure loss while allowing efficient gas flow and liquid distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If net-like bodies or three-dimensional knitted fabrics are used as packing materials to increase gas-liquid contact area, then the contact area is improved, but the structural strength decreases causing deformation and requiring additional support members that increase weight

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas-liquid contact areaVSAvoidstructural strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The packing is divided into multiple sheet materials arranged in parallel, each sheet being a separate structural unit. This segmentation allows each sheet to maintain structural integrity independently while collectively providing large gas-liquid contact area, resolving the contradiction between contact area and structural strength

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each sheet material is constructed as a composite structure combining a base sheet with an integrated rib pattern. The ribs are formed as integral parts of the sheet material, creating a composite structure that simultaneously provides structural support and maintains large contact area for gas-liquid interaction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Weight of moving object

If sheet materials are arranged in parallel to reduce weight and manufacturing cost, then weight and cost are reduced, but the sheet materials deform and deflect under load

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepacking weightVSAvoidsheet material stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The continuous sheet material is segmented into multiple sections by integrating ribs at specific intervals. This segmentation creates smaller, more stable structural units that resist deformation individually, allowing the overall packing to remain lightweight while maintaining stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Ribs are strategically positioned at specific locations on each sheet material where structural support is most needed. This local reinforcement approach provides stability exactly where required without adding unnecessary weight across the entire sheet, maintaining the lightweight advantage while preventing deformation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Area of stationary object

If complex-shaped packing materials are used to increase gas-liquid contact area, then contact area is improved, but gas flow resistance increases causing pressure loss and energy inefficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas-liquid contact areaVSAvoidpressure loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The packing is segmented into multiple flat sheet materials arranged in parallel rather than using complex three-dimensional structures. This segmentation creates straight, unobstructed gas flow paths between the sheets, reducing flow resistance and pressure loss while the multiple sheets collectively provide large contact area

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of increasing contact area by creating complex three-dimensional shapes that obstruct flow, the invention uses multiple two-dimensional sheets arranged in parallel. This dimensional approach provides large total contact area while maintaining simple, straight gas flow paths, thereby reducing pressure loss and energy consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3357573B1Filler packing
Publication Date: 2022.05.25 IHI CORP
  • EP3357573B1 patent drawingFigure 1(a)~1(b)
  • EP3357573B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(b)
  • EP3357573B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A packing has a plurality of sheet materials spaced and arranged in parallel, and is used in a standing state to cause liquid to flow along the flat surface thereof. Each sheet material has at least one member group including a plurality of support members arranged such that the upper end of the uppermost support member corresponds to the upper end of the sheet material and the lower end of the lowermost support member corresponds to the lower end of the sheet material. Each support member has a pair of support walls parallel to the liquid flow direction and perpendicular to the flat surface of the sheet material, and a bridging part connecting the support walls . Formed is a sandwiching structure that one sheet material is held by at least one support member attached thereto and at least one support member attached to an adjacent sheet material, and the sandwiching structure extends linearly through the plurality of sheet materials.