November 1952
INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
pheric dust as a test aerosol. A small unit handling u p t o 50 cubic feet of air per minute at resistances as high as 20 inches of water was constructed for media studies. A large pilot unit handling up t o 2000 cubic feet of air was fabricated for full scale performance studies and for possible field application. Studies of the effect of porosity on efficiency show that in a fourfold range of the Fiberglas compression no influence of porosity on efficiency could be detected. Studies with felted media indicate efficiencies approaching 100% may be attainable. Fiberglas and plastic fibers may also be used in this type of unit and although not true edge filters, they can be operated at variable density in the same construction to give a greater range of resistance regulation than with felted media. These filters can be used with refractory media and are also capable of remotely controlled operation.
Acknowledgment The authors wish to acknowledge the technical assistance of Leonard C. Mandell in obtaining the oil smoke efficiency test d a t a on various porosities of Fiberglas.
Bibliography (1) Adler, H. W., and Rees, J. P., Jr., J . Chem. Met. and Mining Soc., S . Africa, 35, 366 (1935).
(2) American Felt Co., Glenville, Conn., Felt and Filtration Data Sheet, No. 15 (July 1946). (3) Billington, N. S.,and Saunders, D. W., J. Inst. Heating Ventilating Engrs., London, 15, 46 (1947). (4) Blasewitz, A., et ai., Rept. HW 20847, Unclassified Hanford Works, Parts I and 11, General Electric Co., Richland, Wash. (April 16, 1951). (5) Davies, C. N.,Proc. 9th Intl. Congr. Ind. Med., John Wright and Sons, Bristol, England (September 1948). (6) Hele-Shaw, Henry; S., U. S. Patent 1,557,3851 (Oct. 20, 1925). '(7)Ibid.,No. 1,744,510 (Jan. 21, 1930). (8) Rodebush, W. H.,"Handbook on Aerosols," Chap. 9, U. S. Atomic Energy Commission, Washington, D. C., 1950. (9) Rodebush, W. H., Langmuir, I., and LaMer, V. K., OSRD Rept. No. 865 (Sept. 4, 1942). (10) Silverman, L., Chem. Eng. Progress, 47,462 (1951). (11) Silverman, L., U. 8. Tech. Confr. Air Pollution, Washington, D. C., 1950, Chap. 36, p. 289, New York, McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1952. (12) Silverman, L., and Viles, F. J., Jr., J . Ind. Hug. and Toxicol. 30, 124 (1948). (131 Stafford, E.,and Smith, W. J., Chem. Eng., 57, 105 (1950). (14)Stafford, E., and Smith, W. J., IND.ENG. CHEM.,43, 1346 (1951) . RECEIVED for review October 5, 1951. ACCEPTED July 16, 1952. * This study was made as p a r t of the work done on Contract AT(30-1)841 between Harvard University a n d the U. S. Atomic Energy Commission. The opinions expressed are those of t h e authors a n d do not necessarily represent t h e views of the Commission. Presented i t the XI1 International Congress of Pure a n d Applied Chemistry, Section I , Air a n d Stream Pollution, S e w York, September 13, 1951.
Packing Support for Glass Columns
Engineering p,o"c","ss development
PETER PANTAGES AND JULIAN FELDMAN Synfhefic Fuels Research Branch, Bureau o f Mines, Bruceton, Pa.
A
2783
STUDY of the performance of various kinds of packings in distillation columns ( 1 ) has led t o the development of a
new packing support. This support offers the special advantage of being removable for adding or withdrawing packings, eliminating the necessity of inverting the column. As shown in Figure 1, the packing material is supported by a wire mesh funnel. This funnel is seated in a small funnelshaped, perforated bushing which is slip-fitted onto the shaft. The bushing rests on a shoulder formed a t the point where the shaft diameter is increased. The vertical shaft, which extends 1 inch below the column proper, Figure 1. Packing Support for a Glass is suspended from a Column 9 Inches in Internal Diameter
steel disk bearing three equally spaced rods radiating in a horizontal plane t o the column wall. A t the column wall, these rods bend up in a direction parallel t o the axis of the column and are then curved over in order t o engage the indentations in the column wall. The packing support is inserted from the bottom of the distillation column which is in its normal upright position. The shaft permits manipulation of the support for passing the hooks up between and above three indentations in the column wall, corresponding in position t o the hooks. Rotation of the shaft in the proper direction allows the hooks t o engage the indentations when the assembly is lowered. A clearance of about 1/32 inch is allowed between the hooks and the column wall t o facilitate manipulation. Packing is then added from the top of the column. T o remove packings, the funnel suspension shaft is unscrewed from the steel disk and the funnel assembly is withdrawn from the column, allowing packings to fall out of the column. The suspended assembly then can be screwed back in its place. The funnel support occupies only 20% of the crosssectional area, thus minimizing the possibility of flooding at this point. The authors have used this device in a column 2 inches in diameter and 6 feet in length to support 1560 grams of packing.
literature Cited
M.,Feldman, J., Wender, I., and Orchin, M., IND.ENG. CHEM.,43, 1452 (1951).
(1) Myles,
RECEIVED for review August 8, 1951.
ACCEPTED M a y 22, 1952.
