Column internals
Whenever a distillation process has to be carried out in columns containing no metal because corrosion can occur or there can be an adverse effect on the product from metal ions, column packings are available such as DURAPACK, a structured glass packing with outstanding separation properties. Columns containing no metal and able to withstand high temperatures and high vacuum, are available in Borosilicate glass 3.3 and glass-lined steel.

Function
In counter-current columns the pressure drop cannot be high wherever liquid and vapour stream come into contact. CORE-TRAY separates the liquid and vapour stream over the cross-section of the perforated plate and prevents a build-up of liquid. In the area of the gas risers, however, the throughput surface of the gas is the equivalent of 120% of the column cross-section, so that here, where the liquid and vapour stream meet, the pressure drop remains low and no build-up of liquid occurs.

The illustration shows the various levels of the CORE-TRAY. It can be seen that the counter-current area which is crucial for the hydrodynamic layout is located between the packing and the perforated plate and thus reveals a free cross-section matching the DURAPACK high-performance packing. Up to 5 m of DURAPACK can be placed on a plate. If random packing is used instead of structured packing, the passages for the gas are covered with a glass grid to prevent any packing falling through.

 

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Liquid collector and redistributor
with distributor cup (view from below)

 

Note
Liquid collectors, redistributors and liquid feeds based on the same design principle are also available. In each case the plate is clamped between the column flanges and can be centred with the welded-on eyes.

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