GB1586048A

GB1586048A - Contact body for contacting liquid and gas particularly intended for air humidifiers and cooling towers

Info

Publication number: GB1586048A
Application number: GB12551/78A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Svenska Flaktfabriken AB
Current assignee: Svenska Flaktfabriken AB
Priority date: 1977-04-01
Filing date: 1978-03-30
Publication date: 1981-03-18
Also published as: SE7703862L; DE2810094A1; FI62182C; MX151723A; FR2386008A1; NO781120L; NO142590C; NO142590B; FR2386008B1; SE423152B; FI780717A7; DK145478A; FI62182B

Description

(54) CONTACT BODY FOR CONTACTING LIQUID AND GAS, PARTICULARLY INTENDED FOR AIR HUMIDIFIERS AND COOLING TOWERS (71) We, AKTIEBOLAGET SVENSKA FLÄKTFABRIKEN. of Sickla Allé 1, Nacka, Sweden, a Swedish Joint Stock Company do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a contact body for liquid and gas. The liquid and the gas may be respectively water and air. Such contact bodies may be particularly useful in air humidifiers though this is not the sole field and the invention is not restricted thereto.

In proposed ventilation installations air humidifiers of the so-called insert type are often used for humidifying the air. Ingoing air is humidified by passing it through a contact body, the surfaces of which are maintained wet by continuously or intermittently pouring water thereon. The air usually flows horizontally through the contact body, while the water is supplied at the top of the contact body and flows downwardly along the contact surfaces thereof. The water can be supplied, for example, by means of a perforated piping. For humidifying the air satisfactorily, it is essential that the water is distributed as uniformly as possible over the surfaces of the contact body. The contact body often comprises a great number of folded contact plates positioned in parallel with and resting against each other or so provided with distance pieces or members that passageways of suitable size are formed t6 permit the passage of the water and air streams through the contact body. Such contact bodies often suffer from the drawback that it is difficult to obtain a substantially uniform water distribution over the plates at very low water flows, particularly when the plates are made of nonhygroscopic, or even of slightly hygroscopic, material.

It is an object of the invention to provide a relatively uniform water distribution, and to maintain water over the contact body, at low water flows.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a contact plate for use in a contact body which is intended to be contacted simultaneously by a liquid and a gas, comprising a first and a second series of cor- rugations which extend over the plate in mutually perpendicular directions, the height and the wavelength of the corrugations of the first series being respectively.greater than the height and the wavelength of the corrugations of the second series.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a contact body which, in use, is intended to be contacted simultaneously by a liquid and by a gas, the contact body comprising at least two contact plates each having a first and a second series of corrugations which extend over the plate in mutually perpendicular directions, height and wavelength of the corrugations of the first series being respectively greater than the height and the wavelength of the corrugations of the second series, the plates being arranged substantially upright parallel to each other with adjacent ones abutting each other, and the plates being oriented relative to each other so that the first and said second series of corrugations of each plate are respectively perpendicular to the first and said second series of corrugations of the adjacent plate or plates, so that the two first series of corrugations of adjacent plates provide passageways between those adjacent plates which extend in two mutually perpendicular directions.

The invention also extends to a liquid/gas contact apparatus including contact body as hereinbefore defined.

A construction embodying the invention is hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an air water contact body, part being broken away for clarity; Figures 2a and 2b are respective perspective views of part of the two contact plates of the body of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-section of a contact plate perpendicular to its coarse structure; and Figure 4 is a cross-section of a contact plate perpendicular to its fine structure.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 shows a contact body positioned in an air stream 7.

Water for wetting the contact body is supplied through piping 8. The contact body comprises a plurality of upright contact plates, which are in parallel with and resting against each other and can be joined at the contact points by means of a suitable binder (such as glue), Every second plate 1 has a coarse structure formed of a first series of corrugatons or folds 3. The folds 3 extend substantially vertically and are superimposed on a second series of folds S or corrugations forming a fine structure on the said plates, which folds 5 extend substantially horizontally. Conversely, a first series of folds or corrugations 4 forming a coarse structure on adjacent or intermediate plates 2 extend sub itantially horizontally and are superimposed on a second series of folds or corrugations 6 forming a fine structure, which folds 6 extend substantially vertically, The structure of the plates 1 and 2 is shown clearly in Figures 2a, 2b, 3 and 4. The coarse structure 3 on the plates 1 (with substantially vertical folds forming the coarse structure 3 onthe contact body) preferably has a fold height (al) of between 2 and 6 mm and a wave length (awl) of between 5 and 15 mm, while the coarse structure 4 on the plates 2 (with substantially horizontal folds forming the coarse structure 4 in the contact body) may have a fold height (a 1). of between S and 15 mm and the wave length (X.1). of between 10 and 30 mm. The fine structures 5 and 6 preferably have a fold height (a2) of between 0.3 and 2 mm and a wave length (A2) of between 1 and 6 mm.

The fold height (a) is to be understood as the distance between wave trough and wave crest, that is the thickness of the plate is not included in said distance (see Figures 3 and 4). The folds forming the coarse structure 3 and 4 and. respectively, fine structure 5 and 6 can be chosen to be sinusoidal, triangular (with more or less softly rounded crests and troughs). or trapezoid.

The contact body shown and above described is particularly applicable in an air humidifier. However. such a contact body could be used in a cooling tower; in this application the coarse structure 3 may preferably have the fold height a of between 5 and 15 mm and the wave length A of between 10 and 40 mm. the coarse structure 4 may preferably have the fold height a of between L() and 30 mm and the wave length A of between 25 and 75 mm, and the fine structures 5 and 6 may preferably have a fold height a of between 1 and 5 mm and a wave length A of between 3 and 15 mm. The contact bodies could be used in apparatus for the recovery of waste heat from a gas, and gas adsorption.

The material in the contact plates advantageously may be hygroscopic or be provided with a hygroscopic surface layer, but the material may also be non-hygroscopic. The thickness of the plates usually varies between 0.05 and 0.5 mm.

It will be understood that in the contact body shown and above described, the water supplied to a contact plate, which is provided with a substantially vertical coarse structure superimposed on a substantially horizontal fine structure, is distributed by the fine structure over the plate, while is it retained by the coarse structure, so that no water droplets are taken along in the air stream. Conversely, in a contact plate which is provided with a substantialy horizontal coarse structure superimposed on a substantially vertical fine structure, the coarse structure tends to dis tribute the water, while the fine structure tends to retain the water. It is, thus, desirable so to adjust the fold height, wave length and form of the fine and coarse structures to each other that the desired balance between distribution and retention of water is obtained.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A contact plate for use in a contact body which is intended to be contacted simultaneously by a liquid and a gas, comprising a first and second series of corrugations which extend over the plate in mutually perpendicular directions, the height and the wavelength of the corrugations of the first series being respectively greater than the height and the wavelength of the corrugations of the second series.

2. A contact body which, in use, is intended to be contacted simultaneously by a liquid and by a gas, the contact body comprising at least two contact plates each having a first and a second series of corrugations which extend over the plate in mutually perpendicular directions, height and wavelength of the corrugations of the first series being respectively greater than the height and the wavelength of the corrugations of the second series, the plates being arranged substantially upright parallel to each other with adj- acent ones abutting each other, and the plates being oriented relative to each other so that the first and said second series of corrugations of each plate are respectively perpendicular to the first and second series of corrugations of the adjacent plate or plates, so that the two first series of corrugations of adjacent plates provide passageways between those adjacent plates which extend in two mutually perpendicular directions.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

water contact body, part being broken away for clarity; Figures 2a and 2b are respective perspective views of part of the two contact plates of the body of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-section of a contact plate perpendicular to its coarse structure; and Figure 4 is a cross-section of a contact plate perpendicular to its fine structure.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 shows a contact body positioned in an air stream 7.

Water for wetting the contact body is supplied through piping 8. The contact body comprises a plurality of upright contact plates, which are in parallel with and resting against each other and can be joined at the contact points by means of a suitable binder (such as glue), Every second plate 1 has a coarse structure formed of a first series of corrugatons or folds 3. The folds 3 extend substantially vertically and are superimposed on a second series of folds S or corrugations forming a fine structure on the said plates, which folds 5 extend substantially horizontally. Conversely, a first series of folds or corrugations 4 forming a coarse structure on adjacent or intermediate plates 2 extend sub itantially horizontally and are superimposed on a second series of folds or corrugations 6 forming a fine structure, which folds 6 extend substantially vertically, The structure of the plates 1 and 2 is shown clearly in Figures 2a, 2b, 3 and 4. The coarse structure 3 on the plates 1 (with substantially vertical folds forming the coarse structure 3 onthe contact body) preferably has a fold height (al) of between 2 and 6 mm and a wave length (awl) of between 5 and 15 mm, while the coarse structure 4 on the plates 2 (with substantially horizontal folds forming the coarse structure 4 in the contact body) may have a fold height (a 1). of between S and 15 mm and the wave length (X.1). of between 10 and 30 mm. The fine structures 5 and 6 preferably have a fold height (a2) of between 0.3 and 2 mm and a wave length (A2) of between 1 and 6 mm.

The fold height (a) is to be understood as the distance between wave trough and wave crest, that is the thickness of the plate is not included in said distance (see Figures 3 and 4). The folds forming the coarse structure 3 and 4 and. respectively, fine structure 5 and 6 can be chosen to be sinusoidal, triangular (with more or less softly rounded crests and troughs). or trapezoid.

The contact body shown and above described is particularly applicable in an air humidifier. However. such a contact body could be used in a cooling tower; in this application the coarse structure 3 may preferably have the fold height a of between 5 and 15 mm and the wave length A of between

10 and 40 mm. the coarse structure 4 may preferably have the fold height a of between L() and 30 mm and the wave length A of between 25 and 75 mm, and the fine structures 5 and 6 may preferably have a fold height a of between 1 and 5 mm and a wave length A of between 3 and 15 mm. The contact bodies could be used in apparatus for the recovery of waste heat from a gas, and gas adsorption.

The material in the contact plates advantageously may be hygroscopic or be provided with a hygroscopic surface layer, but the material may also be non-hygroscopic. The thickness of the plates usually varies between 0.05 and 0.5 mm.

It will be understood that in the contact body shown and above described, the water supplied to a contact plate, which is provided with a substantially vertical coarse structure superimposed on a substantially horizontal fine structure, is distributed by the fine structure over the plate, while is it retained by the coarse structure, so that no water droplets are taken along in the air stream. Conversely, in a contact plate which is provided with a substantialy horizontal coarse structure superimposed on a substantially vertical fine structure, the coarse structure tends to dis tribute the water, while the fine structure tends to retain the water. It is, thus, desirable so to adjust the fold height, wave length and form of the fine and coarse structures to each other that the desired balance between distribution and retention of water is obtained.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A contact plate for use in a contact body which is intended to be contacted simultaneously by a liquid and a gas, comprising a first and second series of corrugations which extend over the plate in mutually perpendicular directions, the height and the wavelength of the corrugations of the first series being respectively greater than the height and the wavelength of the corrugations of the second series.
2. A contact body which, in use, is intended to be contacted simultaneously by a liquid and by a gas, the contact body comprising at least two contact plates each having a first and a second series of corrugations which extend over the plate in mutually perpendicular directions, height and wavelength of the corrugations of the first series being respectively greater than the height and the wavelength of the corrugations of the second series, the plates being arranged substantially upright parallel to each other with adj- acent ones abutting each other, and the plates being oriented relative to each other so that the first and said second series of corrugations of each plate are respectively perpendicular to the first and second series of corrugations of the adjacent plate or plates, so that the two first series of corrugations of adjacent plates provide passageways between those adjacent plates which extend in two mutually perpendicular directions.
3. A contact body according to Claim 2,

in which the contact plates comprise a first series of contact plates having the first series of corrugations disposed substantially hori zontally and a second series of contact plates having the first series of corrugations disposed substantially vertically whereby substantially horizontal and vertical passageways are formed between adjacent plates, the height and the wavelength of the first series of corrugations of the first series of plates being respectively greater than the height and the wavelength of the first series of corrugations of the second series of plates.
4. A contact body, according to Claim 3, in which the height of the first series of corrugations of the first series of contact plates is at least one and a half times the height of the first series of corrugations of the second series of contact plates.
5. A contact body according to Claim 3, in which the height of the first series of corrugations of the first series of contact plates is at least twice the height of the.first series of corrugations of the second series of contact plates.
6. A contact body according to any of Claims 3 to 5, in which in the first series of contact plates the height of the first series of corrugations is at least four times the height of the second series of corrugations, and in the second series of contact plates the height of the first series of corrugations is at least twice the height of the second series of corrugations.
7. A contact body, according to any of Claims 3 to 6, in which in the first series of contact plates the height of the first series of corrugations is at least eight times the height of the second series of corrugations, and in the second series of contact plates the height of the first series of corrugations is at least four times the height of the second series of corrugations.
8. A contact body according to any of Claims 2 to 7, in which the corrugations of the second series of corrugations have a height in the range from 0.3 to 2mm and a wavelength in the range from 1 to 6mm.
9. A contact body according to any of Claims 3 to 8, in which the corrugations of the first series of corrugations of the first series of contact plates have a height in the range from 5 to lSmm and a wavelength in the range from 10 to 30 mm, and the corrugations of the first series of corrugations of the second series of contact plates have a height in the range from 2 to 6mm and a wavelength in the range from 5 to 1 Smm.
10. A contact body according to any of Claims 3 to 7, in which in the first series of contact plates the corrugations of the first series of corrugations have a height in the range from 10 to 30mm and a wavelength in the range from 25 to 75mm and the corrugations of the second series of corrugations have a height in the range from 1 to 5mm and a wavelength in the range from 3 to 15mm, and in the second series of contact plates the corrugations of the first series of corrugations have a height in the range from 5 to 15mum and a wavelength in the range from 10 to 40mm and the corrugations of the second series of corrugations have a height in the range from 1 to 5mm and a wavelength in the range from 3 to 15mum.
11. A contact body according to any of Claims 2 to 10, in which the contact plates are made of hygroscopic material.
12. A contact body according to any one of Claims 2 to 10, in which the contact plates have a hygroscopic surface layer.
13. A contact body according to any one of Claims 2 to 10, in which the contact plates are made of non-hygroscopic material.
14. A contact plate for use in a contact body which is intended to be contacted simultaneously by a liquid and a gas, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
15. A contact body for simultaneous contact by a liquid and by a gas, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.
16. Liquid/gas contact apparatus includ- ing a contact body according to any of Claims 2 to 13 or 1 5.