Packed-bed absorption column: flexible device for efficient gas / air cleaning

On the pedestal of gas cleaning and industrial air filtering devices, absorption columns rightfully occupy one of the most honorable places. Due to the wide choice of liquid absorbents (reagents) and types of packing, these units are highly flexible and efficient in cleaning gas and air media from highly-toxic and chemically active organic and inorganic gaseous and aerosol pollutants, (as well as their integrated combinations).

The versatility of absorption towers makes them in demand in almost all fields of modern industry. The ability of absorbers to work as industrial dust collectors (for fine particles) makes these apparatuses indispensable for capturing exhaust- and waste gases after burning hydrocarbon fuel, wood, coal, fuel oil and other organic matter, the combustion of which is accompanied by the formation of mechanical imputities. To a large extent, this applies to enterprises in the energy (CHP, fossil-fuel burning power stations), metallurgical, oil refining, and chemical sectors.

Separately, it is worth mentioning the importance of cleaning the exhaust gases resulting from the work of marine vessels. Strict regulations on emissions of nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides (and other gaseous contaminants) into the marine area, oblige the owners of civilian- and warships to properly organize the gas cleaning infrastructure of marine transport. Read more about marine scrubbers.

Our Russian production enterprise with a thirty year history proudly offers individual design / calculation and manufacture of modern, high-performance, reliable, compact, and affordable packed columns for any processing and extractive industries. Fast delivery of gas-cleaning equipment to Europe and Asia with turnkey commissioning.

Advantages, design, construction and working principle of packed towers

What is the difference between a scrubber and an absorber? In terms of dust collection, absorption is the process of cleaning the gas environment, the amount of coarse mechanical dust in which is negligible. The scrubber, on the contrary, is designed to carry out a comprehensive cleaning of gas flows heavily contaminated with both gases and dust constituents. Thus, industrial absorbers are more related to chemical-type equipment.

absorption column

This model of chemical absorber is made of polypropylene, but, depending on your specific needs, the tower (and auxiliary equipment) can be also produced of lined steel, fluoroplastic, fiber glass, stainless steel or titanium

As for design and construction features, the absorption column, as the name implies, is (in most cases) a vertical tower of cylindrical, square or rectangular cross section. Despite the fundamental similarity with the scrubber, the principle of radial swirl flow is not implemented in the packed absorber. The flow usually goes from the bottom up or, more rarely, in the horizontal plane.

A tower contains one or more tiers on which packing is laid (structurally or randomly). During the operation of the absorber, the packing tiers are irrigated by spraying nozzles.

The retention of hazardous or undesirable substances occurs on the wet surface of the filling bodies, while the material of the substrate can provide an additional chemical contact.

This makes it possible to effectively capture such substances as sulfur oxides (deSOx), nitrogen oxides (deNOx), carbon oxides, chlorine, fluorine (and their halides), mercury vapors, furan, dioxins, hydrocyanic and hydrochloric acids, acetone (and other strong solvents), VOC, aggressive aerosols, aromatic hydrocarbons as well as other compounds and pure chemical elements.

Packing bodies material and characteristics

As a filling, bodies having a high specific surface with a small volume are used. Among the main ones, there are Raschig rings, Dixon rings, saddles, pipes with a crosspiece, chords, half-chords (and their spatial variations).

As for the packing filling of the column, it can also vary widely in materials. These can be pure metals (copper, nickel), metal alloys (nickel-copper, nickel-molybdenum, monel, Hastelloy, steels, etc.), or non-metallic / highly porous substances (aluminosilicates, ceramics, catalytic plastics, synthetic materials).

packing bodies for absorption columns

Packing bodies for absorption units

Our chemical research department develops unique packings, liquid absorbents and solid adsorbents that provide cleaning efficiency that is close to 100%.

Own experiments show that the best option for gases with a temperature close to normal, is an randomly laid packing made of polypropylene or stainless steel. For high-temperature gases (or air), inox Pall rings, Raschig rings, and Intallox saddles showed the best results.

The flow rate is selected in such a way as to keep the substrate immobile and, thus, preserve the fundamental principle of operation and, accordingly, the efficiency of the device. For absorption towers, the optimal gas flow rate is within 0.5–2 meters per second.

In the case of processing of dusty streams, the surface of the packing bodies is gradually covered with a thin inert film, and periodical unloading of the substrate is required for its subsequent cleaning / replacement.

Basic layout of absorption tower

Please note that this drawing is a reference. We approach the design and production of each tower with a exceptional individuality, so the actual layout of the gas scrubber made for Your industrial facility may vary slightly.

Air / Gas handling capacity, m3 / h Reference dimensions, mm
a b h D
100 1050 1150 3900 160
500 1050 1150 4000 170
1000 1050 1150 4100 190
1500 1050 1650 4200 230
2000 1150 1700 4400 260
3000 1250 1790 4600 290
4000 1350 1900 4700 320
5000 1450 2000 4890 370
6000 1550 2150 5200 425
8000 1680 2300 5400 475
10 000 1800 2400 5600 525
12 000 2000 2550 5790 580
15 000 2150 2850 5910 650
20 000 2390 3100 6100 720
25 000 2600 3250 6400 850
30 000 3000 3600 6700 950
40 000 3180 3780 7400 1000

Scope of supply, specifications and characteristics

The column consists of the following units: absorbent tank, gas feed inlet, support plate (grid), heat- and mass transfer packing array (stainless steel or polypropylene), absorbent spraying system, demister, chemical pump, piping and stop valves.

Among the advantages of wet absorbers produced by PZGO LLC, the following features should be highlighted:

  • device performance: from tens of cubic meters to tens of thousands of cubic meters of gas / air medium per hour;
  • cleaning efficiency: 96-99.99%;
  • compactness and variability of spatial orientations to preserve the effective working space of an industrial zone;
  • full automation of the gas-cleaning systems (including automatic pulp removal);
  • low pressure drop, low power consumption;
  • the ability to handle chemically aggressive and high-temperature flows;
  • reliability, durability, affordability and manufacturer's warranty.
Design, manufacture, sale, delivery and commissioning of equipment

To clarify any questions regarding the individual design, manufacture and purchase of absorption towers, please do not hesitate to contact us by e-mail or fill out the Customer’s questionnaire.

Absorber-based air filtration plant (assembly process)

We quickly deliver equipment to any region in Europe or Asia. If necessary, our engineers will perform professional assembly and commissioning of industrial gas-cleaning equipment into operation (with the possible use or modernization of the existing infrastructure).

air purification equipment

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