Fractionating Column Packing

Learn more about our column packing options and Pope’s Pro-Pak distillation column packing.

Standard Distillation Column Packings

A range of packing types for fractional packed column systems is available. The standard distillation column packing offered is Pro-Pak® random packing. Customer-specified packings can be used including materials of stainless steel, metal alloys, ceramic, and plastics.

Typical Column Packing Equipment Options

Pro-Pak® distillation column packing
Saddles
Rings
Structured Packing
Knitted Packing

Non-Random Packings Available Include:

Woven wire mesh, spiral rolled type cylindrical sections.
“Structured” corrugated sheet or gauze metal cylindrical sections.
Bubble-cap or sieve tray plates.

As a generality, smaller diameter columns favor small-size random packings such as Pro-Pak® for higher efficiency, as opposed to large-size random or non-random types due to column wall effects.

Properties, Performance and Specifications of 0.24″ Protruded Pro-Pak® Standard Packing

Material of construction, 316 stainless steel (monel, other alloys available).
372 ft2 per 1 ft3 of packing, allowing high mass transfer rates.
96% free space, allowing low pressure drop, especially in vacuum distillation.
Shape: half-cylinder, corners bent.
Size: 0.24″ diameter x 0.24″ length, 0.003″ sheet thickness, 1,024 protrusion holes per in2.
Density: 290,000 pieces and 21 lb/ft3, (316 SS).
Packing factor: 420.
Flood rate predicated with the following equation:
- G=270(ρ1)0.58(ρg)0.42where:
- G=Mass vapor velocity, lb / ft2 • hr
- ρ1=Density of liquid phase, lb/ft3
- ρg=Density of gas phase, lb/ft3
- Efficiency of the packing increases with increasing vacuum.

Comparative Column Packing using PRO-PAK®

Column Diameter (inches)	Operating Pressure	Boil Up Rate(L/hr)	Vapor Velocity(ft/sec)	HETP (Plate Height Inches)	Pressure Drop (Inches H20/ft)


2	atmospheric	3.7	0.35	1.77	0.12
2	atmospheric	15.5	1.46	2.10	1.70
2	(200 mm Hg)	1.05	0.31	0.79	0.23
2	(200 mm Hg)	11.15	3.20	1.33	5.23
2	(50 mm Hg)	4.6	4.70	0.92	2.54
6	atmospheric	37.0	0.40	1.66	0.18
6	atmospheric	146.0	1.60	2.57	2.86