Random Packing

From competitive products to advanced solutions

 Sulzer Chemtech- Mass Transfer Technology
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2
 Nutter Rings 4

I-Rings 6

C-Rings 8

P-Rings 8

R-Rings 9

Plastic P-Rings 10

Plastic C-Rings 10

Applications 11

Random Packing
Random Packing has been used for separations in
chemical and refining plants for many years. The
practical, chemical process and commercial benefits
of Random Packing are well-established in many
applications and is one of the mainstays in the area of
mass transfer equipment. For example at high liquid load
and in high pressure applications, Random Packings are
preferred by providing improved distillation or absorption
efficiency and reduced pressure drop compared to other
mass transfer contacting devices. Moreover, ease of
replacement and suitability for storage make Random
Packing the equipment of choice for systems with heavy
fouling or corrosion.
Sulzer offers a wide range of Random Packing types and
sizes, covering from 1st generation to 3rd generation,
comprising the Nutter RingTM, I-RingTM, C-RingTM, P-RingTM
and R-RingTM. The I-Ring, C-Ring, P-Ring and R-Ring are
equivalent to the widely used IMTP, CMR, Pall Ring and
Raschig Ring respectively.
Benefit from Sulzer global souring network as we are
able to provide our customer with the most competitive
products and best solutions!

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 Nutter RingTM

• High-performance random packing designed by Dale

Nutter in 1984

• Efficiency enhanced by lateral liquid spreading and

surface film renewal

• Superior surface utilization allows for shorter

packed beds

• Intensively tested by Fractionation Research Institute

(FRI) which makes the Nutter Ring the best-known
high-performance random packing in industry

• Geometry provides maximum randomness with

minimum nesting and maximum mechanical strength

Nutter Ring Types NR #0.7 NR #1 NR #1.5 NR #2 NR #2.5 NR #3

Specific Surface m2/m3 226 170 124 96 85 66
ft2/ft3 68.9 51.8 37.8 29.3 25.9 20.1
Void Fraction % 98 98 98 98 98 98
Material thickness can be adjusted to clients' needs. Other sizes are available on request.

KGa of Nutter Ring HETP of Nutter Ring

Liquid Load, gpm/ft2 F, ft/s �lb/ft3
4 8 10 20 30 40 50 60 0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5
110 7 1200
100 1100
6
90 ) 40
(NR #0.7 1000
80 5 NR #3
KGa, kg-mol / (h m3 atm)

900
KGa, lb-mol/(h ft3 atm)

70 NR #1
800 NR #2.5

HETP, inches
4 30
.5)
HETP, mm

60 (NR #1 700 NR #2
600 NR #1.5
2
50 NR #
3 NR #1 20
R # 2.5 500
N
NR #0.7
400
40 #3)
(NR 300
35 10
2 200
30
100

25 0 0
10 15 20 25 30 40 50 60 80 100 150 0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5
Liquid Load l, m3/m2 h F, �Pa

Conditions Conditions
Diameter: 0.3 m, Bed height: 2.25 m Valid for atmospheric distillation with standard organic test mixture
Liquid concentration: 4% NaOH at total reflux
Conversion to carbonate (Na 2CO3): < 1%
Inlet gas concentration: 400ppm CO2
Temperature: 25 oC
F = 1.5 √Pa
Bracket indicates extrapolated data

4
NR #0.7 F, ft / s √lb / ft3 NR #1 F, ft / s √lb / ft3
1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0
20 2.45 20 2.45

10 1.22 10 1.22

∆p /∆z, in H2O / ft
∆p /∆z, in H2O / ft

∆p /∆z, mbar / m
∆p /∆z, mbar / m

1.0 0.12 1.0 0.12

0.1 0.1
0.5 1.0 5.0 0.5 1.0 5.0
F, √Pa F, √Pa

NR #1.5 F, ft / s √lb / ft3 NR #2 F, ft / s √lb / ft3

1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0
20 2.45 20 2.45
Liquid
Load l, m3/m2 h
10 1.22 10 1.22
0

∆p /∆z, in H2O / ft
∆p /∆z, mbar / m
∆p /∆z, in H2O / ft
∆p /∆z, mbar / m

20
40
60
1.0 0.12 80 1.0 0.12
100
120
150
Air-water system,
0.1 ambient conditions
0.1
0.5 1.0 5.0 0.5 1.0 5.0
F, √Pa F, √Pa

NR #2.5 F, ft / s √lb / ft3 NR #3 F, ft / s √lb / ft3

1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0
20 2.45 20 2.45

10 1.22 10 1.22
∆p /∆z, in H2O / ft

∆p /∆z, in H2O / ft
∆p /∆z, mbar / m

∆p /∆z, mbar / m

1.0 0.12 1.0 0.12

0.1 0.1
0.5 1.0 5.0 0.5 1.0 5.0
F, √Pa F, √Pa

5
 I-RingTM

• Equivalent to IMTP Rings - industry‘s first and most widely

used high-performance random packing introduced in the
late 1970's

• Geometry ensures low liquid hold-up and a great

improvement in capacity compared to Pall Rings

I-Ring Types IR #15 IR #25 IR #40 IR #50 IR #60 NIR #70

Specific Surface m2/m3 305 226 151 100 80 60
ft /ft
2 3
93.0 68.9 46.0 30.5 24.4 18.3
Void Fraction % 97 97 98 98 98 98
Material thickness can be adjusted to clients' needs. Other sizes are available on request.

KGa of I-Ring HETP of I-Ring

Liquid Load, gpm/ft2
F, ft/s �lb/ft3
4 8 10 20 30 40 50 60 0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5
110 7 1200
(IR #15)
100 1100
IR #25 6
90 40
1000
80 5 IR #70
KGa, kg-mol / (h m3 atm)

900
KGa, lb-mol/(h ft3 atm)

70 IR #40 800
4 30

HETP, inches
60 700 IR #60
HETP, mm

50
IR # IR #50
600
50 60)
(IR # 3 IR #40
20
500
40 400 IR #25
)
35 #70 300 IR #15
(IR 10
2
30 200

100
25 0
0
10 15 20 25 30 40 50 60 80 100 150
0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5

Liquid Load l, m3/m2 h F, �Pa

Conditions Conditions
Diameter: 0.3 m, Bed height: 2.25 m Valid for atmospheric distillation with standard organic test mixture
Liquid concentration: 4% NaOH at total reflux
Conversion to carbonate (Na 2CO3): < 1%
Inlet gas concentration: 400ppm CO2
Temperature: 25 oC
F = 1.5 √Pa
Bracket indicates extrapolated data

6
IR #15 F, ft / s √lb / ft3 IR #25 F, ft / s √lb / ft3
1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0
20 2.45 20 2.45

10 1.22 10 1.22

∆p /∆z, in H2O / ft

∆p /∆z, in H2O / ft
∆p /∆z, mbar / m

∆p /∆z, mbar / m
1.0 0.12 1.0 0.12

0.1 0.1
0.5 1.0 5.0 0.5 1.0 5.0
F, √Pa F, √Pa

IR #40 F, ft / s √lb / ft3 IR #50 F, ft / s √lb / ft3

1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0
20 2.45 20 2.45
Liquid
Load l, m3/m2 h
10 1.22 10 1.22
0
∆p /∆z, in H2O / ft
∆p /∆z, mbar / m

∆p /∆z, in H2O / ft
∆p /∆z, mbar / m

20
40
60
1.0 0.12 80 1.0 0.12
100
120
150
Air-water system,
0.1 ambient conditions 0.1
0.5 1.0 5.0 0.5 1.0 5.0
F, √Pa F, √Pa

IR #60 F, ft / s √lb / ft3 IR #70 F, ft / s √lb / ft3

1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0
20 2.45 20 2.45

10 1.22 10 1.22
∆p /∆z, in H2O / ft

∆p /∆z, in H2O / ft
∆p /∆z, mbar / m

∆p /∆z, mbar / m

1.0 0.12 1.0 0.12

0.1 0.1
0.5 1.0 5.0 0.5 1.0 5.0
F, √Pa F, √Pa

7
 C-RingTM

• Equivalent to the widely used Cascade Mini-Rings

(CMR)

• Evolution of Pall Ring employing a much lower

diameter-to-height ratio which favors orientation that
results in lower pressure drop and higher capacity

• Excellent mechanical strength

• C-Rings excel in fouling media

C-Ring Types CR #1 CR #1.5 CR #2 CR #2.5 CR #3 CR #4 CR #5

Specific Surface m /m
2 3
244 187 142 126 101 70 62
ft /ft
2 3
74.4 57.0 43.3 38.4 30.8 21.3 18.9
Void Fraction % 97 97 98 98 98 98 99
Material thickness can be adjusted to clients' needs. Other sizes are available on request.

P-RingTM

• Equivalent to the widely used Pall Ring

• Design by BASF AG around 1940 based on the

Raschig Ring

• Punched «shovels» leave «windows» on the outside

facilitating vapor flow and enhancing capacity versus
the R-Ring

• World‘s largest collection of performance data is

available for the Pall Ring

P-Ring Types PR #5/8 PR #1 PR #1.5 PR #2 PR #3.5

Specific Surface m2/m3 350 222 144 112 64
ft2/ft3 106.7 67.7 43.9 34.1 19.5
Void Fraction % 95 95 97 97 98
Material thickness can be adjusted to clients' needs. Other sizes are available on request.

8
 R-RingTM

• Equivalent to the widely used Raschig Ring

• Employing a diameter-to-height ratio of ~1 makes the

Raschig Ring the first «designed» random packing –
introduced by Fritz Raschig at the end of the
19th century

• Simple geometry allows for manufacturing from very

thick material to withstand corrosive media

P-Ring Types RR #5/8 RR #1 RR #1.5 RR #2 RR #3.5

Specific Surface m2/m3 330 210 140 110 63
ft /ft
2 3
100.6 64.0 42.7 33.5 19.2
Void Fraction % 95 95 97 97 98
Material thickness can be adjusted to clients' needs. Other sizes are available on request.

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 Plastic P-RingTM

• Equivalent to the Plastic Pall Ring

• The most common plastic random packing type

used in industry

• Available in various size ranging from 5/8'' to 3½''

• Available in PP, PVC/C, PE, PVDF, ETFE, PFA

• Other materials are available on request

Plastic P-Ring Types PR #5/8 PR #1 PR #1.5 PR #2 PR #3.5

Specific Surface m /m
2 3
335 210 128 100 63
ft /ft
2 3
102 64 39 30 19
Void Fraction % 88 91 93 95 96
Other sizes are available on request.

Plastic C-RingTM

• Equivalent to the Plastic Cascade Mini-Rings (CMR)

• Better capacity & efficiency than Pall Ring with low

aspect ratio of 1:3 (height/diameter)

• Available in various size ranging from 1½'' to 4''

• Available in PP, PVC/C, PE, PVDF, ETFE, PFA

• Other materials are available upon request

Plastic C-Ring Types CR #0A CR #1A CR #2A CR #2 CR #3A

Specific Surface m2/m3 315 210 155 118 98
ft /ft
2 3
96 64 46 36 30
Void Fraction % 88 91 93 95 95
Other sizes are available on request.

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 Application

Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) Treatment

• Liquid-Liquid extraction service with amine solutions
• Random Packing decreases droplet size and
increases dispersed phase hold-up while supressing
back-mixing
• Sulzer Chemtech VSX liquid treater internals promote
phase separation and redistribution
• A similar scheme using aqueous caustic as solvent
is employed to remove mercaptans from the liquefied
natural gas

Butadiene Air Cooling Cl2/HCI/HF Absorption, Degassing,

• Divided Wall Column requires design and Water Treatment, Flue Gas Treatment
manufacturing skills for complex column internals • Plastic random packings show an excellent chemical
• Random Packing has proven to be a reliable mass corrosion resistance
transfer device for this extractive distillation with high • Are used preferably at low to moderate temperatures
risk of polymerization
• Plastic random packings are favored for their
economic advandage

Fertilizer, Acid Gas Removal and Gas Sweetening

• Caters to Benfield Catacarb, aMDEA, UCARSOL and Gianmarco VETROCOKE solvents / processes
• Many licensors consider Nutter Rings and I-Rings to be the perfect fit for new installations as well as retrofits for existing
tray columns to boost capacity and to reduce CO2 slippage
• Metal Random Packing can handle these foaming systems at high liquid loads

Demethanizers Formula Notation

• Proven performance with Nutter Ring packing over the l Liquid load
past two decades HETP Height equivalent to a
• Increase capacity of existing trayed columns theoretical plate

• Decrease diameter of new columns Δp/Δz Pressure drop per unit height

• Lower pressure drop KGa Volumetric mass transfer

coefficient
• Decreased capital and operating costs
F F factor

CMR™ is a trademark and IMTP® and Cascade Mini-Rings® are registered trademarks of Koch-Glitsch, LP. Pall Ring® is a registered trademark of
BASF AG. Benfield™ is a trademark and UCARSOL® is a registered trademark of UOP LLC. Catacarb® is a registered trademark of Eickmeyer &
Associates. aMDEA® is a registered trademark of BASF AG. VETROCOKE® is a registered trademark of Gianmarco-Vetrocoke (GV) 11
 www.sulzer.com
Please check for your local contact
Sulzer Chemtech Ltd, a member of the Sulzer Corporation, with
headquarters in Winterthur, Switzerland, is active in the field of process
engineering and employs some 4000 persons worldwide.
Sulzer Chemtech is represented in all important industrial countries and
sets standards in the field of mass transfer and static mixing with its
advanced and economical solutions.
Legal Notice: The information contained in this publication is believed to be accurate and reliable, but is not to
be construed as implying any warranty or guarantee of performance. Sulzer Chemtech waives any liability and
22.54.06.40 - XII.14 - 5 indemnity for effects resulting from its application.
The activity program comprises:
• Process components such as fractionation trays, structured and
random packings, liquid and gas distributors, gas-liquid separators,
and internals for separation columns
• Engineering services for separation and reaction technology such as
conceptual process design, feasibilities studies, plant optimizations
including process validation in the test center
• Recovery of virtually any solvents used by the pharmaceutical and
chemical industry, or difficult separations requiring the combination
of special technologies, such as thin film/short-path evaporation,
distillation under high vacuum, liquid-liquid extraction, membrane
technology or crystallization.
• Complete separation process plants, in particular modular plants
(skids)
• Advanced polymerization technology for the production of PLA and
EPS
• Tower field services performing tray and packing installation, tower
maintenance, welding, and plant turnaround projects
• Mixing and reaction technology with static mixers
• Cartridge-based metering, mixing and dispensing systems, and
disposable mixers for reactive multi-component material
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