The importance of Structured Packings and Solvent Stripper in industrial use

Posted by EWeb Solutions on July 11th, 2016

Certain specialized materials are designed to increase the surface area for the contact between different phases such as liquid and steam phase to help conduct a variety of industrial processes.

Structured Packingsare such material that is designed to be used in chemical reactors, distillation and absorption columns. It is made of corrugated metal plates also called gauzes arranged in a manner that make the liquids flow through complicated paths within the columns.

It is made of corrugated sheets of perforated embossed metal, wire gauze or plastic. It cannot provide much resistance to gas flow with its open honeycomb structure with inclined flow channels. Liquid spreading is increased with the help of surface enhancements that have been created using special techniques for the purpose. These features show notable benefits in low pressure conditions and in case of low irrigation rate applications.

Typical applications include vacuum and atmospheric crude oil fractionators, FCC main fractionators and TEG contactors. The separation of mono-, di- and triethanolamine, conducted under vacuum, may also utilize structured packing, owing to its relatively low pressure drop. Tall oil fractionation, the process of separating fatty acids from rosin acids and pitch obtained as a by-product of the Kraft process of wood pulp manufacture, also utilizes structured packing. The packing additionally finds use in the manufacture of styrene monomer and the dehydration of glycol in natural gas processing.

It is mainly used in atmospheric and vacuum crude oil fractionators, TEG contactors and FCC main fractionators. The processes where low pressure drop is observed, this material is used. One such example is separation of mono-, di- and triethanolamine. The by-products obtained in the Kraft process of wood pulp manufacture are separated using this material. The separation of fatty acids from pitch and rosin acids is done in this process.

Solvent strippers are also very important industrial equipment. In order to make the process economical, heat recovery is done in the bottom line of products. Extra-large towers are required to conduct vacuum operations and that is why the amount of heat should be calculated while designing solvent strippers. The column should be able to control the power generated by steam flow. Waste streams can be easily freed from harmful materials. Only the best manufacturers in the field are capable of creating quality solvent strippers which can provide the desired results.

It is widely used in and is very durable. When purchased from a reliable manufacturer one can get quality tested products in latest designs. With proper research it is possible to get the equipment in economic range.