Packed Column

Dr. Syeda Sultana Razia

Professor
Department of Chemical Engineering
BUET, Dhaka 1000
Reference:
Wankat, 2012, 3rd Edition
(Chapter 16: 16.1,16.2,16.3,16.4,)
Introduction to Packed Columns
 Packed column
◦ Used in distillation, gas-absorption, liquid-
liquid extraction
◦ Gas-liquid contact is continuous
◦ Liquid flows down the column over the
packing surface and vapor or gas flows up
counter-currently
◦ Performance depends on good gas and liquid
distribution through the packed bed
 Background: Packed Column
Distillation

 Commonly used for

◦ High value products
◦ Heat sensitive products
◦ Usually run in small/medium batches
 Used since ~1907
◦ Patent for Raschig rings by Dr. Raschig in
1907
Plate Column vs Packed Columns
Packed Advantages Tray Advantages
 Lower
∆𝑃  Can handle solids
𝑧
 High liquid rates
 Smaller column diameter
 Large column diameter
 Cheaper corrosive
separations  Allows complex ops

 Less foaming  Easier alternative feed

locations
 Low liquid holdup
 Better performance
 Efficient batch operation
predictions
 Greater thermal control
 Higher residence time
 Weigh less
Factors Favoring Packed
Columns
 Vacuum systems: Low pressure drop
 Small diameter column
 Corrosive system
 Foaming
 Lower liquid hold-up
 Batch distillation
Packed Column Internals
 Packed Column Internals Liq distributor

Structured packing

Liq collector

Bed limiter
Intermediate
liq distributor

Random packing

Support grid
Objectives of Packing Design
 To attain maximum mass transfer and
capacity with minimum pressure drop by
improving
◦ Aerodynamic properties
◦ Liquid distribution
◦ Gas/liquid contact
Properties of Packing
 High surface area per volume
 Good wettability and good resistance to the
pressure (high strength)
 Pressure drop should be desirably low

When the size increases, both mass transfer

and pressure drop decrease. The optimal size
and shape is the one which compromise
both factors.
Materials
Nowadays metal and plastic packing have
replaced the ceramic
 Ceramic elements are still used when corrosive
chemicals are involved and good wettability is
required
 Metal elements provide good wettability with the
advantage of having higher strength
 Plastic, usually polypropylene, is largely used
because of low cost but they fail in case of high
temperature. Besides they have poor wettabiity.
 Packing Types
 Random or dumped
packing

 Structured packing: layers

of wire mesh/corrugated
sheets

 Grids: open lattice

structure
 Random Packing
1st generation 2nd generation 3rd generation

Berl Saddles, Raschig Intalox saddles, Pall rings Nutter rings, cascade
rings rings
Comparison