(110c) Distillation and Absorption Equipment

Distillation is almost as old as boiling, and yet, it remains the primary technique whereby chemicals are separated. Absorption is the primary technique whereby acid gases like CO2 are removed from gas streams; carbon capture is in the news. Distillation and absorption columns still dominate the skylines of refineries, chemical plants, and gas plants. The columns almost always contain trays or packings.  Fractionation Research, Inc. (FRI) is a global consortium of companies that fund tray and packing research in Stillwater, OK. New generations of these devices have allowed column owners to revamp existing columns to achieve capacity increases, separation improvements, and energy consumption decreases. Augmented crossflow, counter-flow, and co-current flow trays have exhibited capacity increases. New generations of random packings and the associated distributors haven exhibited separation improvements. Structured packings and new high capacity versions have revolutionized vacuum towers where low-pressure drops are critical. This tutorial session reviews the newest trays and packings and FRI’s testing of them