(452e) 3D Printed Gyroid-like Structured Packings

Structured packings are an integral part in distillation columns, absorption columns, and chemical reactors. An effective packing requires large surface area, low pressure drops, and even liquid distribution. Standard structured packings have been established for decades and typically consist of corrugated sheets stacked in alternating arrangements. Recently, triply periodic minimal surfaces (TPMS) have received attention for potential use in heat exchangers, mass exchangers, and chemical reactors. This class of structures, including the familiar ‘Gryoid’, uniquely requires additive manufacturing for production. Here, we demonstrate the use of several TPMS geometries as structured packings fabricated using additive manufacturing. These packings exhibit improved liquid distribution, reduced wall channeling, and increased fluid mixing in comparison to conventional structured packings.

This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344. LLNL-ABS-809142.