Packing factors F and areas per volume (per foot) for random

packings

Raschig
Rings
Raschig
Rings
(1/32 in.
Metal)
Raschig
Rings
(1/16 in.
Metal)
Berl
Saddles
(Cerami
c)
Pall
Rings
(Metal)
Pall
Rings
(Plastic)
Intalox
Saddles
(Cerami
c)
Hy-Pak
Rings
(Metal)

1/2
580
(111
)
300
(128
)
410
(118
)

Nomin
al
5/8
380
(100)

Packin
g
3/4
255
(80)

Size

Inch

1
179
(58)

1.5
93
(38)

2
65
(28
)

3
37
(19)

170

155
(84)

115
(63)

300

220
(72)

144
(57)

83
(41)

57
(31
)

32
(21)

170

110

65

45

81
(104)

56
(63)

40
(39)

95
(104)

55
(63)

40
(39)

92
(78)

52
(60)

27
(31
)
26
(31
)
40
(36
)

45
(69)

29
(42)

240

200
(190
)

145
(102)

26
(33
)

18
17
(26)
22

16
(31)

Note that the areas per volume are given in units of per foot. If you
use other system of units, be careful to convert the units.

Typically, the gas and the liquid flows are known. After choosing a
packing from the available long list, one of the two can be done: (i)
choose a pressure drop per unit length of the tower, which is about
0.2-0.6 inches of water column per foot or (ii) operate the tower at a
gas flux equal to 50% of flooding. There is nothing hard and fast
about 50%. This number could be 60% or 75% as well. Values close
to flooding are not recommended.
Lets do a simple problem to find how diameter of absorption towers
is determined.
A packed tower is being used to scrub ammonia out of a stream
containing only three percent of that gas. The tower contains 1centimeter Raschig rings. The gas flow is 0.93 kg/s at 30 oC and is
largely air at 1100 mm Hg. The liquid flow is 6.7 kg/s at 30 oC also.
Find diameter of the tower for (i) pressure drop of 0.5 inches of
water per foot of the tower and (ii) a gas flux equal to 70% that at
flooding.

Suppose management of your company is considering raising the

existing liquid and gas flows in an absorption column by 25%.

Discuss the implications of this rise on pressure drop across the

column and how to address them.