Used Columns

Columns are used for liquid/gas processing through distillation, flashing, rectification, absorption, stripping, evaporation, humidification, de-humidification, de-phlegmation, and scrubbing.

All of these processes are liquid-gas mass-transfer operations.

The type of flow streams are Countercurrent, Co-current, and Cross-Flow.

The major types of columns are Tray or Plate Columns, Packed Columns, and Contactor Columns.

Columns are typically pressure rated and have a narrow diameter vs. the height of the vessel (eg. 36” diameter x 60’ high). Columns usually have some type of internals such as trays, or sections of packing. Contactor columns are agitated.

• Contactor Columns: Agitator drives installed on top of the column to provide additional turbulence inside the column to disburse one liquid into another. These columns may have a single turbine on the agitator shaft or multiple turbines on the shaft in separate sections depending on the process.
• Packed Columns: Typically used for absorption, rectification, stripping, humidification, dehumidification, and distillation. They contain a support plate and packing, which come in a variety of materials and shapes depending on the application.
• Tray Columns: Typically used for absorption, rectification, and stripping. They contain a series of plates that come in a variety of configurations. The type of plate and number of plates depends on the process.