Object-Oriented Simulation and GA

A packed column comprising a bed of bodies of fibrous material for the interphase transfer of mass and/or heat and the separation of solids or immiscible phases from fluids. Each body is of generally cylindrical form and includes a centrally disposed axial support from which a large number of fibers extend radially, the fibers being secured to the support. The bodies are disposed in the bed at random and interlocked with each other. The density of the fibers in count per unit volume varies from point to point in the packing body and in the bed. The volume of each body is small compared to the volume of the bed. In mass and/or heat transfer with this bed a liquid is distributed over the top of the bed and trickles downwardly through the packing in a multitude of irregular paths while the gas is projected upwardly through the bed. The gas contacts the liquid over a very large surface area for an extended time interval and effective mass and/or heat transfer between the gas and liquid takes place. In the separation of solids or an immiscible phase from a fluid, the fluid is transmitted once or repeatedly through the bed and the fibrous packing acts to agglomerate or coalesce the solid or immiscible phase components and deposit these components on the fibrous surface.