What is Structured Packing and How Is It Used in Process Plants?

Posted by SCube Mass Transfer PVT LTD on January 6th, 2021

Structured packing materials specifically designed for use in distillation and absorption columns, as well as chemical reactors. They typically consist of thin corrugated metal plates or gauze, designed to force fluid onto complex paths throughout the column. The design ultimately aims to create a larger surface area for contact between different phases.

Structured packing is made from a variety of materials, including corrugated sheets of perforated embossed metal, plastic, or wire gauze. The resulting product is an open honeycomb with inclined flow channels producing a high surface area coupled with a low gas flow resistance. Encoding is often chosen to maximize fluid diffusion that are ideal for applications with low pressures and irrigation rates.

How Structured Packing is Used in Process Plants

 A similar arrangement of structured packing offers several advantages compared to other types of packing or trays. They are useful in many applications, such as those where precise fluid diffusion is required, such as offshore applications that are subject to permanent bending and motion. There are several types of structured packing that can be used in process plants.

Gauze - This is the preferred packing for deep vacuum and low liquid rate applications. This is the lowest pressure drop per theoretical phase, making it an ideal choice for specialty chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and materials that are sensitive to temperature.

Sheet Metal – This packing can handle a wide range of vapor and liquid rates, as well as process services. Process applications range from low pressure drop vacuum and atmospheric distillation services to medium high pressure absorbers. Sheet metal packing can also handle a minor amount of contamination with sufficient liquid loading to keep the packing wet.

Knitted - Knitted packing can be rolled into one-piece layers to fit columns of small diameter. It can also be wrapped back and forth to make rectangular bricks used in column manways. Multi-strand wires provide higher surface area and higher mass transfer efficiency at higher pressures than woven mist.

Structured Packing Versus Trays

Packing trays are commonly used when a column is facing an irritant issue. These trays are replaced with structured packing for three reasons:

• They provide extra inter-facial area for contact between vapor and liquid.
• Better separation efficiency.
• Structured packed columns are shorter than trayed columns.

 S Cube Mass Transfer Private Limited offers high performance Structured Packing that is manufactured. Feel free to call 919960400912or e-mail us chetan@s3dist.in  with your requirements to get a quick response and unsurpassed service.