A reactor for the synthesis of urea comprising a vertical shell and perforated baffles or trays (3) arranged to define compartments of the reactor, wherein each baffle comprises an array of individual perforated tiles (10) wherein each tile (101) comprises side walls (101A-101D) and a top face (101F), the side walls having first perforations for the liquid and said top face having second perforations for the gas, wherein said second perforations are smaller than said first perforations, and the tiles are distributed over the baffle with a two-dimensional pattern where adjacent tiles are separated by gaps (17).

A packing device for mass and heat transfer with a subject fluid includes a housing having opposing ends, and subject fluid openings at each opposing end defining a subject fluid flow path for at least one subject fluid flowing through the packing device. A plurality of mass and heat transfer plates each include an interior heat exchange fluid channel disposed between interior heat transfer surfaces of the mass and heat transfer plates. A heat exchange fluid inlet and fluid outlet can supply and remove heat exchange fluid to the heat exchange fluid channels of the mass and heat transfer plates. The mass and heat transfer plates can be oriented to define there between fluid flow channels for the subject fluid. A method and system for mass and heat transfer with a subject fluid, and a method and system for the removal of CO.sub.2 from a gas stream are disclosed.

A method of enhancing yield and transfer rate of a packed bed in a reactor chamber of a vessel includes steps of applying acoustic energy to the packed bed, measuring impedance of the packed bed deriving a natural resonance frequency of the packed bed from the measured impedance and applying the acoustic energy to the packed bed at the derived natural resonance frequency of the packed bed.

An apparatus for enhancing a yield and a transfer rate of a packed bed includes a packed bed, a vessel having a reaction chamber, a support frame and acoustic attenuator for holding the packed bed in the reaction chamber, at least one acoustic transducer adapted to transmit acoustic energy into the packed bed and an acoustic generator. The acoustic generator has impedance matching functionality.

The main subject of the present invention is a process for installing a section of packing in a casing by means of a device to assist installation of a section of packing, the casing comprising at least one tubular wall extending in a longitudinal direction (L) between two longitudinal ends, and an inner face of which participates in delimiting a receptacle for the section of packing, the tubular wall participating in delimiting an input opening at one of its longitudinal ends, the casing comprising a base wall positioned at the longitudinal end opposite the input opening, the casing being positioned horizontally during the process for installing the section of packing, the process comprising a step of fitting of the device to assist installation on the casing, during which the device to assist installation is secured in the vicinity of the input opening of the casing, a step of positioning of the section of packing relative to the device to assist installation and to the input opening, and at least one step of pushing during which the section of packing is pushed into the receptacle of the casing.

A method of enhancing yield and transfer rate of a packed bed in a reactor chamber of a vessel includes steps of applying acoustic energy to the packed bed, measuring impedance of the packed bed deriving a natural resonance frequency of the packed bed from the measured impedance and applying the acoustic energy to the packed bed at the derived natural resonance frequency of the packed bed.

An expandable center arrangement for a reactor is disclosed. The arrangement comprises an expansion tube; a center support inside the expansion tube and three or more spring elements. The spring elements are fastened to the center support and arc out to the expansion tube. A reactor is also disclosed.

A wastewater or sludge treatment fixed film cross-flow distribution media corrugated sheet (84, 84′, 84″) and assemblies (118, 118′, 118″) thereof include corrugations (98, 98′, 98″), angled of about 10° to about 80° to the top and the bottom of the sheet and the assemblies. The sheet has a unitarily formed baffle (100, 100′, 100″) along at least a top portion of an exposed side of the sheet (96, 96′, 96″) or assemblies (130, 130′, 130″) exposed to denser wastewater or sludge outside of the assemblies than within the assemblies that is sufficient, when joined with either a like baffle (100, 100′, 100″) on a like sheet (84, 84′, 84″) or optional substantially planar interstitial sheets (132, 132′, 132″) adjacent the corrugated sheets, to substantially block air used in a sparging system from exiting or the denser wastewater or sludge being treated from entering the exposed side (96, 96′, 96″) of the sheet or the exposed side (130, 130′, 130″) of the assemblies. Beneficial biomass forming biofilm on the surfaces within the assemblies is controlled, effectively treating the wastewater or sludge.

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.

The present invention relates to an insertion device for inserting at least one packing section for a gas/liquid separation column into a cylindrical casing, comprising a base provided with retaining means which are configured to grip a packing section and which are arranged uniformly around a main axis, characterized in that the insertion device comprises at least two fastening means secured to the base, said fastening means being configured to fasten the insertion device to the casing.

The invention also covers an insertion system for inserting at least one packing section into a cylindrical casing, comprising such an insertion device, and a method for inserting at least one packing section into a cylindrical casing that is implemented by such an insertion system.