An apparatus is provided for installing a packing disk of a structured packing into a vessel of a material-exchange column. The apparatus has a separating device for separating the endless packing strip into individual packing sheets, a conveying device for conveying individual packing sheets to the vessel, to stack the individual packing sheets in the vessel to form the packing disk, and a measuring device designed to measure a preferably horizontal distance between two mutually opposite points of an internal contour of the vessel. The separating device is designed to separate individual packing sheets from the endless packing strip such that a respective length of the packing sheets is less than or equal to the measured distance. A central axis of the vessel is arranged horizontally in the apparatus.

A structured packing module for use in a mass transfer column. Corrugated sheets of structured packing in the structured packing module are held together by fasteners that extend into the corrugated sheets from opposite sides of the structured packing module at an angle of inclination or perpendicularly with respect to the sides of the structured packing module. The fasteners may have an outer surface with protrusions or indentations that resist removal of the fasteners from the structured packing sheets.

An annular divided wall column for the cryogenic rectification of air or constituents of air is provided. The annular divided wall column includes a first annular column wall and a second annular column wall disposed within the first annular column wall to define an annulus column region and an interior core column region. The present annular divided wall column further includes structured packing elements disposed within at least the annulus column region as well as a ring-shaped cantilevered collector; and a ring-shaped distributor disposed in the annulus column region above or below the plurality of structured packing elements. The thermal expansion and contraction of the second annular column wall in a radial direction and in an axial direction is independent of the thermal expansion and contraction of the first annular column wall in the radial and axial directions.

The invention includes a reactor installation device comprising a flexible band, a first tab, a second tab, and a mechanical stop. The flexible band has a first end, a second end, a top edge and a bottom edge. The first tab is attached at or near the first end, the second tab is attached at or near the second end, and the both tabs are attached at or near the top edge of the flexible band. The mechanical stop is attached to the flexible band, the first tab, and/or the second tab, between the top edge and the bottom edge of the flexible band. The flexible band is capable of being bent into the shape of a circle by bringing the first and second tabs into contact. The invention also includes a method of inserting a skirt seal into a stackable structural reactor using the reactor installation device.

An annular divided wall column for the cryogenic rectification of air or constituents of air is provided. The annular divided wall column includes a first annular column wall and a second annular column wall disposed within the first annular column wall to define an annulus column region and an interior core column region. The present annular divided wall column further includes structured packing elements disposed within at least the annulus column region as well as a ring-shaped cantilevered collector; and a ring-shaped distributor disposed in the annulus column region above or below the plurality of structured packing elements. The thermal expansion and contraction of the second annular column wall in a radial direction and in an axial direction is independent of the thermal expansion and contraction of the first annular column wall in the radial and axial directions.

A wiper band assembly suitable for use in packed distillation columns used in an air separation unit is provided. The wiper band assembly includes specially designed metal or metal alloy wiper tabs that are longer and thinner than conventional wiper tabs. The longer and thinner wiper tabs preferably have a thickness between about 0.05 mm and 0.25 mm and a length greater than about 50.0 mm. The physical dimensions and characteristics of the wiper tabs are selected to avoid permanent deformation during the installation process and provides continuous engagement with the interior surface of the packed column wall when the wiper tabs are exposed to pressure differentials typically seen in such packed distillation columns.

An annular divided wall column for the cryogenic rectification of air or constituents of air is provided. The annular divided wall column includes a first annular column wall and a second annular column wall disposed within the first annular column wall to define an annulus column region and an interior core column region. The present annular divided wall column further includes structured packing elements disposed within at least the annulus column region as well as a ring-shaped cantilevered collector; and a ring-shaped distributor disposed in the annulus column region above or below the plurality of structured packing elements. The thermal expansion and contraction of the second annular column wall in a radial direction and in an axial direction is independent of the thermal expansion and contraction of the first annular column wall in the radial and axial directions.

An annular divided wall column for the cryogenic rectification of air or constituents of air is provided. The annular divided wall column includes a first annular column wall and a second annular column wall disposed within the first annular column wall to define an annulus column region and an interior core column region. The present annular divided wall column further includes structured packing elements disposed within at least the annulus column region as well as a ring-shaped cantilevered collector; and a ring-shaped distributor disposed in the annulus column region above or below the plurality of structured packing elements. The thermal expansion and contraction of the second annular column wall in a radial direction and in an axial direction is independent of the thermal expansion and contraction of the first annular column wall in the radial and axial directions.

A catalytic distillation structure that may include a rigid framework having at least two grids with a plurality of horizontal fluid permeable tubes mounted to said grids to form a plurality of fluid pathways among the plurality of horizontal fluid permeable tubes. Additionally, each horizontal fluid permeable tubes may have a profile of a six-sided polygon. Further, the catalytic distillation structure may include a plurality of vertically plates or wires connecting vertically aligned tubes of the plurality of horizontal fluid permeable tubes. Furthermore, the plurality of vertically plates or wires connects from a corner of one vertically aligned tubes to a corner of an adjacent vertically aligned tube.

A clip assembly for holding down a member in a vessel comprising a clip comprising a first panel comprising a tab extending from the first panel and a protrusion extending from the first panel, and a second panel integral with and normal to the first panel for engaging the member. A wall in the vessel comprises a cut-out adapted to receive the tab and a recess disposed laterally to the cut-out and adapted to receive the protrusion upon inserting the tab into the cut-out and sliding the tab in the cut-out laterally with respect to the recess. The subject matter also pertains to the clip itself and the method of use.