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14
Packed Towers
Packed towers are used increasingly in a variety of ap- metal, or reinforced plastic towers are used. The basic
plications in the chemical process industries. The reasons unit consists of:
for this are an increase in the availability of design in- 1. shell
formation, the evolution of higher-capacity and higher-
efficiency mass transfer packings, and improvements in 2. packing (one or more sections)
distributors and support plates. Today, packings can be 3. packing support(s)
considered for most services where high numbers of 4. liquid distributor(s)
theoretical stages are required for mass transfer.
Most of the fractionating columns in gas-processing 5. intermediate supports and redistributors
plants that were previously equipped with trays can now 6. gas and liquid entrance and exit nozzles.
be filled with packings. Packings, such as slotted rings in
Many of the mechanical aspects of tower construction
metal and plastic saddles, offer large improvements in
and assembly have an influence on the design and in-
capacity for absorption and heat transfer applications. An
terpretation of tower performance. Every effort should
example of this is the use of slotted rings in a gas-plant
be made to increase the effectiveness of contact be-
demethanizer, which has resulted in a significant capacity
improvement over trays. tween the process streams, and to reduce losses by
entrainment or wall effects whilst minimizing pressure
Packed towers are used increasingly in small frac-
drop. At the same time the design must be consistent
tionating towers and absorbers where access is re-
with the economics dictated by the process and type of
stricted. Their use is also advantageous where corrosion
construction.
control is essential. Because of liquid-distribution con-
cerns, packing still is usually not recommended for large-
diameter columns, or where a high turndown ratio is
required. All packings tend to spread liquid as it flows 14.1 Shell
downwards. This characteristic is adequate for dispers-
ing the liquid between distribution points, but not to The shell may be of metal (steel, alloy or non-ferrous),
correct poor distribution across a tower without consid- plastic, wood or some combination, which may require
erable loss of efficiency. Studies of liquid spread in tower the addition of liners or inner layers of rubber, plastic or
packing have been reported by Hoek [158]. Figure 14-1A brick. The mechanical problems of attaching inner noz-
shows a cross-section of a typical packed tower, zles, supports and brick require considerable attention
Figure 14-1B illustrates a typical packed tower with indesign that is not an integral part of sizing the equip-
internals for improved distillation. Figures 14-1C and 14- ment. Figures 14-2A–C show a typical large, steel
1D show a photograph of a packed column, and a sche- brick-membrane lined tower with corbeled brick support
matic of the pilot plant packed column respectively. The locations. In these towers, temperature and/or corrosive
shell is usually cylindrical, although square wooden, light conditions usually dictate the composition of internal
Ludwig’s Applied Process Design for Chemical and Petrochemical Plants; ISBN: 9780750683661
Copyright Ó 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights of reproduction, in any form, reserved.
CHAPTER 14 Packed Towers
lining, and the requirements for the proper acid-(or slightly. Porcelain towers should be used for higher
alkali-) proof cements. pressures rather than the weaker stoneware.
Ceramic, plastic and other non-metal tower shells The rate of heating or cooling a stoneware or porcelain
are used quite often (Figures 14-3, 14-4, and 14-5). It tower should not exceed 15 F/min.
is important in ceramic construction to consider that
the main inlet or outlet nozzles, or any other large
connections, should be oriented 90 to each other in
14.2 Random Packing
order to reduce the possibility of cracking the walls,
as most cracks go one-half diameter. Preferably there The distributor and packing define the performance of
should only be one nozzle in any one horizontal plane. this equipment. Their proper selection entails an un-
The nozzles should never carry any piping or other derstanding of packing operational characteristics, and
stress load. the effect on performance of the points of significant
The bell and spigot type tower, shown in Figures 14-3 physical difference between the various types.
and 14-4, is satisfactory for 2 to 2.5 psi in 12-in. dia. to Good progress has been made in the past decade in
30-in. dia. towers when the joints are packed with the development of packing types for difficult and wide
chevron-type caulking compound. For an operating ranging process applications (see: Websites in bibliogra-
pressure of 5 psi in 18-in. through 48-in. dia., use of non- phy). These types include:
asbestos and silicate cement. Special hold-down packing 1. Random particle packings are discrete, individually
gland-type rings will allow this pressure to be raised shaped particles designed to provide contacting
484
Packed Towers CHAPTER 14
Figure 14-1B Typical packed tower with internals for improved distillation. Used by permission of Jaeger Products Inc., Bull. 1100.
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CHAPTER 14 Packed Towers
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