Packed Tower Internals Guide

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction Packed Tower Internals Guide

A. Liquid Distributors Liquid Distributors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-1Intalox Distributors for Demanding Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-5Model 106/107 Intalox Pan Distributor/Redistributor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-6Model 116/117 lntalox Deck Distributor/Redistributor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-7Model 126/127 Intalox Trough Distributor/Redistributor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-8Model 136/137 Intalox Pan or Trough Distributor/Redistributor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-9Model 166 Intalox Trough Distributor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-10Model 186 Intalox Trough Distributor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-11Traditional Distributors for Absorption, Stripping, or Heat Transfer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-12Model 845 Pan Distributor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-13Model 798 Pan Distributor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-14Model 816/817/916/917 Deck Distributor/Redistributor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-15Model 806 Trough Distributor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-16Model 1016/1017 Trough Distributor/Redistributor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-17Model 844 Pipe-Arm Distributor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-18Model 1044 Spray-Type Liquid Distributor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-19

B. Feed Devices Feed Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-1Model 119/129 Liquid Only Feed Pipe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-3Model 719/729 Liquid Only Feed Pipe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-4Model 755 Flashing Feed Gallery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-5Model 855 Flashing Feed Chamber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-6Model 955 Flashing Feed Pipe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-7Model 196 Vapor Diffuser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-8Model 198 Vapor Distributor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-9Model 896 Vapor Distributor Plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-10

C. Bed Limiters Bed Limiters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C-1Model 823 Bed Limiter for Random Packing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C-2Model 103 Non-Interfering Bed Limiter for Random Packing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C-3Model 133 Bed Limiter for Structured Packing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C-3

D. Support Plates Support Plates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .D-1Model 818 Gas Injection Support Plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .D-2Model 804 Gas Injection Support Plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .D-3Model 809 Light Duty Support Plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .D-4Model 819/1019 Gas Injection Support Plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .D-5Model 134 Support Grid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .D-6

E. Collector Plates Liquid Collectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E-1Model 633 Chevron-Type Liquid Collector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E-2Model 733 Trough Liquid Collector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E-3Model 833 Deck Liquid Collector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E-4

F. Liquid/Liquid Extraction Liquid/Liquid Extraction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F-1Model 834 Disperser/Support Plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F-2Model 835 Disperser/Support Plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F-3Model 644 Dispersed-Phase Feed Pipe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F-4Model 744 Continuous-Phase Distributor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .F-4

G. Other Topics Typical Tower Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .G-1General Details . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .G-2Materials of Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .G-3Special Tower Internals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .G-4Other Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .G-5

PACKED TOWER INTERNALS GUIDE

Saint-Gobain NorPros (formerly NortonChemical Process Products Corporation)dedication to providing state-of-the-artmass transfer equipment has resulted inmajor developments with packed towerinternals. Liquid distribution has long beenregarded as the key to precise packedtower performance. Saint-Gobain NorPromade the commitment to determine whatfactors are really important toward perfect liquid distribution. We installed a10 ft [3 m] diameter by 40 ft [12 m] tallhydraulic simulation column at ourresearch facility. With this column, westudy the effects of various liquid andvapor flow rates. The result: Saint-GobainNorPro confidently designs internals forany size tower from the beginning withoutthe need to test each internal before shipping, although such testing is available on request.

We recognize that not all packed towersrequire state-of-the-art liquid distributionuniformity. For those towers, we still offerour traditional style internals. The traditional style internals have been usedfor many years in services that requirematerials ranging from carbon steel to zirconium, thermoplastics, fiberglass,graphite and ceramics.

This guide is intended to assist in the selection of appropriate towerinternals for use in packed towers. Thewide range of applications does notallow us to cover all the choices andvariation Saint-Gobain NorPro offers.As always, we offer our expertise incustom design of proper equipmentfor your exact requirements. Call onour application experience to helpsolve your mass transfer needs.

LIQUID DISTRIBUTORS

Introduction

Liquid distributors are used in packed towers above each bed of packing.

The liquid distributor is located above the bed, usually 6 to 8 in. [150 200 mm] above the packing. This provides sufficient space for the gas to disengage from the bed before it passes through the distributor.

An ideal distributor possesses the following attributes, each with a specificeffect on the overall performance of apacked tower:

Uniform liquid distribution

Resistance to plugging or fouling

Proper turndown capability

Low gas pressure drop

Minimal distributor height to allowmore packed bed heights

Cross-mixing capability

The introduction of high performancetower packings in the early 1980s accentuated design deficiencies of distributors available at the time. Inresponse, Saint-Gobain NorPro introduceddistributors with attributes designed to correct these deficiencies. These attribute