Packed Towers – PT74

This complete line of countercurrent packed tower type scrubbers lets you select the most efficient unit for your air pollution control problems. The basic design of the unit channels the gas flow upwards through a packed bed while the scrubbing liquid flows downward by gravity over the packing. This method is well suited to high efficiency gas absorption but is not recommended for use on dust collection applications.

In addition to air pollution applications, it can also be adapted to process needs. The internal components of the tower consist of a packing support plate, a packing bed, a liquid distributor, and a mist eliminator (see Figure A). The tower can be designed for oncethrough operation, or to recycle the liquid, depending upon process conditions.

Efficiency: The countercurrent packed tower can be designed to achieve virtually as high an efficiency as required. Based upon actual test data and results from field installations, our engineers can select the type of packing, scrubbing liquid, and tower size best suited to your particular needs. Since these units are custom designed for each application, optimization of overall design results in an economic product at the required performance.

Type Of Packing: The key to designing a packed column for air pollution control is the tower packing. It should be very open in design to minimize pressure drop while still maintaining a high surface where the absorption of the gas will occur. Spiral-Pac type tower packing will accomplish this. For other purposes, alternate packing may be selected. The type of packing most suitable for any application will vary with temperature, pressure, gas concentration, and efficiency requirements. Careful consideration is given to the various alternatives before selecting the packing for each application.

Construction Materials: Packed towers are available in a wide variety of construction materials. Any material that can be fabricated can be made into a packed tower. For reasons of economy, tower shells are often made from FRP fiberglass reinforced plastic, stainless steel, Alloy 20, or any other material indicated for the specific application. Tower internal components can be made from polypropylene or other plastics for low initial cost, or any other materials including metals depending upon the process requirements.

Dimensions And Approximate Sizing: The overall dimensions shown in the table are based on a typical application of 1% HCI in an air stream with a 99% removal required. The dimensions given are for a fiberglass tower with typical nominal 2″ Spiral-Pac and a standard mesh type mist eliminator.

Alternate Designs: Counter-flow design towers offer the highest possible performance. Occasionally, space limitations or design limits require the use of cross flow or co-current flow. Units for such applications have been designed and custom units will be designed for your needs.

High-pressure applications, Ethylene oxide removal, flue gas desulfurization, NOx and phosgene scrubbing are examples of areas where  special experience can give you an economical and trouble-free system.

Where new or unusual problems face you, test units are available for in-plant use. In addition, our laboratory test facilities can be used to evaluate and select the packing and scrubbing solution best suited to your needs.