COLUMN INTERNALS: Gas
distributors, support plates, grids, liquid distributors
In mass separation and
heat transfer processes, a suffi ciently homogeneous distribution of the liquid and/or
gaseous phase over the whole column cross area plays an important role, while only then
the total bed height is availablefor the process itself.
 |
| Profile support
plate |
Support plates and grids in
various design forms and with various supporting substructures take up the weight of the
packing as well as that of the liquid-hold-up and that of the foulings during operation.
They have to supply a
sufficient open area, so that the gaseous and liquid phase can penetrate through and drain
off sufficiently unrestricted under the operating conditions. Depending on the hydraulic
load of the column, relatively simple and cheap grid forms or multi beam support plates
with larger free gas cross-section and with separately guided gas and liquid flow are
recommended.
The right choice of liquid
distributors and/or re-distributors relates to the type and size of packing used and the column
operating conditions, such as:
- Turn down ratio
- Column diameter
- Corrosivity
- Required number of tranfer units
- Irrigation density
- Degree of distribution quality
- Viscosity of the liquid
- Particle content or even sludge load in the
liquid
- Polymerizing substances
- Temperatures
 |
| Grating |
The turn down ratio can
be influ-enced in quite wide limits through the shape and location of the orifices, e. g.
in the design of multiple orifice levels in the walls or inner tubes, slots with suitable
width or other forms. Special attention must be paid to the minimum opening size, the
minimum liquid level, a proper flow pattern and predistribution system within the
distributor and accurat levelling during installation.
The expenditure for the
installation of a gas distributor is recommended generally for large column cross
sections, low superficial gas velocities, very low bed heights etc.
In general, all internals are
designed to ensure, that the installation through manholes or vessel flanges is possible
and that adjustment and inspection can be performed easily.
 |
| Orifice-pan
distributor |
A wide range of ceramic
and metallic materials as well as materials from the field of plastics, careful own
construction and production as well as quality controls round off our per-formance
profile. We are pleased to advise, calculate the hydraulic column operation for you and
carry out the corresponding mechanical stability calculations. Additionally we inform you,
which support rings or support beams are needed at site.
Upon special request, we also
draw vessel sketches. Decades of experience in the various fields of applica-tion
regarding absorption, desorption, distillation, water treat-ment and adsorption, we are
best suited to offer our customers optimum performance and service.
 |
| Through
distributor |
