Sulzer Chemtech

Chemtech
Sulzer

Metal Random Packing

World-Class. World Scale. Worldwide.

0699 2527-1

Metal Random Packing from Sulzer Chemtech

World-Class

Worldwide

Sulzer Chemtech quality assurance

helps to meet demanding clientele
requirements. All manufacturing sites
are certified and projects are monitored by
Sulzer quality delegates.
World Scale
Sulzer Chemtech
controls sufficient
manufacturing
capacities to meet world scale
demands for Random Packing
everywhere in the world.

Metal Random Packing

from Europe, Asia and
the Americas.

Column Internals*)
Uniform liquid and gas distribution
is decisive for optimum performance
of packed beds. Sulzer Chemtech's
expert knowledge in designing distributors is unparalleled in the industry.

Emergency Delivery
Please contact your nearest Sulzer Chemtech
representative from our website
www.sulzerchemtech.com.
Besides our own capabilities, Sulzer Chemtech can rely on
an international network for emergency deliveries. If there is
something in stock anywhere that you need right now, let us
find it for you.
Research
Our pilot plants in Switzerland
are also used to widen our
application know-how and to test
and optimize processes, solvents, etc.,
together with our clients.

0603 2535-3

Complete
Portfolio *)
Sulzer Chemtech
develops, designs
and manufactures all kind of
mass transfer equipment and
will offer you the most suitable technology for the task
at hand.
SulzerChemtech

Design Tools
Much of what we have learned
from our research activities is
reflected in our hydraulic design
tool SULCOL which is available for free.

Tower Field Services *)

Test Facilities
Results from our liquid distributor
test rigs at every manufacturing
site encouraged Sulzer to design
the world's largest liquid distributors.
2

In most industrial countries

we have acquired tower
field service companies,
making Sulzer Chemtech a one-stop
solution provider.

Contents

Global Sourcing
Sulzer Chemtech is one of the world's largest
producers of mass transfer components.
We leverage on proven local procurement
opportunities over a wide range of metal grades to provide
the most favorable conditions for our clients.

Turn Around Services (TAS)*)

One call does it all! Day or night, Sulzer
Chemtech supplies all tower hardware
or equipment your project needs.

Nutter Rings
page 4

I-Rings
(IMTP
Equivalents)
page 6

Random Packing
has been in use from the onset of industrial
distillation and it's here to stay. Lots of important
separation/absorption/stripping processes have
been developed relying on the special behavior
of these mass transfer devices. Moreover, ease of
replacement and suitability for storage make Random
Packing the equipment of choice for systems with
heavy fouling or corrosion.
Development
Own laboratories in Switzerland and joint
development projects with universities and
research institutes in Europe, USA and
China formed the basis for technological leadership.
Engineering Services*)
From phase equilibrium measurements via process design to turnkey
skid-mounted separation plants.

*)

Service
and Installation

Field Service
Revamps and Installation

Tower Field Service

Maintenance, Revamps and Installation

Separate brochure available.

Please browse our website
www.sulzerchemtech.com

C-Rings
(CMR
Equivalents)
page 8

P-Rings
(Pall Ring
Equivalents)
page 8

R-Rings
(Raschig Ring
Equivalents)
page 9

Applications
pages 10-11
3

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

0603 2535-3

Nutter Rings
Specific Surface
Void Fraction

NR #0.7

NR #1

NR #1.5

NR #2

NR #2.5

NR #3

m2 /m3

226

170

124

96

85

66

ft2 /ft3

68.9

51.8

37.8

29.3

25.9

20.1

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

10

20

30

40 50 60

100

KGa, kg-mol / (h m3 atm)

90
70

NR #1

60

.5
(NR #1

5
4

2
NR #
.5
2
#
NR

50
40

(NR

35

#3)

30
25

1200

1.0

1.5

1000

2.0

2.5

40

NR #3

900

NR #2.5

800
700

NR #1.5

600

30

NR #2

NR #1

500

20

NR #0.7

400
300

10

200
100

10

15

20 25 30

40 50 60

80 100

150

Liquid Load l, m3/m2 h

Conditions
Diameter: 0.3 m, Bed height: 2.25 m
Liquid concentration: 4% NaOH
Conversion to carbonate (Na 2CO3): < 1%
Inlet gas concentration: 400ppm CO2
Temperature: 25 oC
F = 1.5 Pa
Bracket indicates extrapolated data

0.5

1100

)
(NR #0.7

80

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

F, Pa

Conditions
Valid for atmospheric distillation with standard organic test mixture
at total reflux

HETP, inches

HETP, mm

KGa, lb-mol/(h ft3 atm)

110

F, ft/s lb/ft3

10

1.22

1.0

0.12

1.0

20

3.0 4.0
2.45

10

1.22

1.0

0.12

0.1

5.0

0.5

1.0

F, Pa

20

3.0 4.0
2.45

10

1.22

1.0

0.12

0.1

0.5

1.0

NR #2

F, ft / s lb / ft3
1.0
2.0

Liquid
Load l, m3/m2 h
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
150

p /z, mbar / m

F, ft / s lb / ft3
1.0
2.0

p /z, in H2O / ft

p /z, mbar / m

NR #1.5

Air-water system,
ambient conditions

5.0

20

3.0 4.0
2.45

10

1.22

1.0

0.12

0.1

0.5

1.0

3.0 4.0
2.45

10

1.22

1.0

0.12

0.1

0.5

1.0

5.0
F, Pa

F, ft / s lb / ft3
1.0
2.0

p /z, mbar / m

20

NR #3

p /z, in H2O / ft

p /z, mbar / m

F, ft / s lb / ft3
1.0
2.0

5.0
F, Pa

F, Pa

NR #2.5

5.0
F, Pa

p /z, in H2O / ft

0.5

F, ft / s lb / ft3
1.0
2.0

20

3.0 4.0
2.45

10

1.22

1.0

0.12

0.1

0.5

1.0

p /z, in H2O / ft

0.1

NR #1

p /z, in H2O / ft

20

3.0 4.0
2.45

p /z, mbar / m

F, ft / s lb / ft3
1.0
2.0

p /z, in H2O / ft

p /z, mbar / m

NR #0.7

5.0
F, Pa

I-RingTM

Direct replacement of IMTP - industrys 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

0603 2532-3

I-Rings
Nominal Size
Specific Surface

IR #15

IR #25

IR #40

IR #50

IR #70

mm

15

25

40

50

70

inch

5/8

305

226

151

100

60

93.0

68.9

46.0

30.5

18.3

97

97

98

98

98

m
ft

Void Fraction

2 /m3

2 /ft 3

Material thickness can be adjusted to clients' needs. Other sizes are available on request.

100

(IR #15)

20

30

40 50 60

IR #25

90

KGa, kg-mol / (h m3 atm)

10

IR #40

60

50

IR #

50
40
35

(IR

#70

30
25

1.0

F, ft/s lb/ft3
1.5

2.0

2.5

1000

40

IR #70

900
800

30

700

IR #50

600

IR #40

500

20

IR #25

400

IR #15

300

10

200
100

10

15

20 25 30

40 50 60

80 100

Liquid Load l, m3/m2 h

Conditions
Diameter: 0.3 m, Bed height: 2.25 m
Liquid concentration: 4% NaOH
Conversion to carbonate (Na 2CO3): < 1%
Inlet gas concentration: 400ppm CO2
Temperature: 25 oC
F = 1.5 Pa
Bracket indicates extrapolated data

0.5

1100

80
70

1200

150

Conditions

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

F, Pa

Valid for atmospheric distillation with standard organic test mixture

at total reflux

HETP, inches

HETP, mm

110

HETP of I-Ring
Liquid Load, gpm/ft2

KGa, lb-mol/(h ft3 atm)

KGa of I-Ring

10

1.22

1.0

0.12

0.5

1.0

F, ft / s lb / ft3
1.0
2.0
20

3.0 4.0
2.45

10

1.22

1.0

0.12

0.1

5.0

0.5

1.0

F, Pa

20

3.0 4.0
2.45

10

1.22

1.0

0.12

0.1

0.5

1.0

IR #50

F, ft / s lb / ft3
1.0
2.0

p /z, mbar / m

p /z, mbar / m

F, ft / s lb / ft3
1.0
2.0

p /z, in H2O / ft

IR #40

20

3.0 4.0
2.45

10

1.22

1.0

0.12

0.1

5.0
F, Pa

p /z, mbar / m

F, ft / s lb / ft3
1.0
2.0
20

3.0 4.0
2.45

10

1.22

1.0

0.12

0.1

0.5

1.0

5.0
F, Pa

0.5

1.0

5.0
F, Pa

p /z, in H2O / ft

IR #70

5.0
F, Pa

p /z, in H2O / ft

0.1

IR #25

p /z, in H2O / ft

20

3.0 4.0
2.45

p /z, mbar / m

p /z, mbar / m

F, ft / s lb / ft3
1.0
2.0

p /z, in H2O / ft

IR #15

Liquid
Load l, m3/m2 h
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
150
Air-water system,
ambient conditions

Formula Notation
l
Liquid load
HETP

Height equivalent to
a theoretical plate

p/z

Pressure drop per

unit height

KGa

Volumetric mass
transfer coefficient

F factor
7

C-RingTM

Direct replacement of the widely used 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

0603 2532-1

C-Rings
Nominal Size

mm
inch

Specific Surface

2/

m3

ft 2 / ft3
Void Fraction

CR #1

CR #1.5

CR #2

CR #2.5

CR #3

CR #4

CR #5

25

38

44

50

63

90

125

244

187

142

126

101

70

62

74.4

57.0

43.3

38.4

30.8

21.3

18.9

97

97

98

98

98

98

99

Material thickness can be adjusted to clients' needs. Other sizes are available on request.

P-RingTM

Direct replacement of 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
Worlds largest collection of performance data is available for
the Pall Ring

0603 2533-2

P-Rings
Nominal Size
Specific Surface

PR #5/8

PR #1

PR #1.5

PR #2

PR #3.5

mm

16

25

38

50

90

inch

5/8

350

222

144

112

64

106.7

67.7

43.9

34.1

19.5

95

95

97

97

98

m
ft

Void Fraction

2 /m3

2 /ft 3

Material thickness can be adjusted to clients' needs. Other sizes are available on request.

R-RingTM

Direct replacement of 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

0603 2534-1

R-Rings
Nominal Size
Specific Surface

RR #5/8

RR #1

RR #1.5

RR #2

RR #3.5

mm

16

25

38

50

90

inch

5/8

330

210

140

110

63

100.6

64.0

42.7

33.5

19.2

95

95

97

97

98

2 /m3

ft2 /ft3
Void Fraction
IMTPTM

CMRTM

are registered trademarks of Koch-Glitsch, LP and Pall

Ring

is a registered trademark of BASF AG

Applications

Treated Gas
Off
Gas

Fertilizers, Acid Gas Removal, 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
Raw
UCARSOL

Benfield and
are registered trademarks 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)

Gas

Absorber

++++

S C R U B B ER S

++++

Oil

Q u en c h es

Butanes,

Regenerator

++++

Butenes

Solvent

Acetylene
C4's

Water

Acethylenes
Solvent

Main Washer

++++
10

E th ylen e

O xid e

++++

Solvent

Butadiene

Random Packing has proven to

be a reliable mass transfer device for this extractive distillation
with high risk of polymerization

Q u en c h es

Crude Butadiene

Butenes

Divided Wall Column requires

design and manufacturing skills
for complex column internals

W a ter

S trip p er s

Rectifier

++++

FC C

Regenerated
Solvent

Degasser

A b s o r b er s

++++

E th yl

NGL Depleted
Lean Amine

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

NGL Inlet
Rich Amine

Sour

len e

W a ter

S trip p er s

++++

H2S

and

A m m o nia

A B S O R B ER S

++++

OVHD Gas
Reflux

Demethanizers
Proven performance with Nutter Ring packing
over the past two decades

Feed

Increase capacity of existing trayed columns

Decrease diameter of new columns
Lower pressure drop

Feed

Decreased capital and operating costs

NGL

G lyc o l

S trip p er s

++++

CO 2

A B S O R B ER S

++++

D eg a s s ER S

++++
11

Headquarters
Sulzer Chemtech Ltd
P.O. Box 65
8404 Winterthur, Switzerland
Phone +41 52 262 37 86
Fax +41 52 262 00 68
chemtech@sulzer.com
www.sulzerchemtech.com

North & South America

Sulzer Chemtech USA, Inc
1 Sulzer Way
Tulsa, OK 74131
USA
Phone +1 918 446 6672
Fax +1 918 446 5321

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 3000 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.

Asia Pacific
Sulzer Chemtech Pte. Ltd.
10 Benoi Sector
Singapore 629845
Phone +65 6515 5500
Fax +65 6862 7563
ctsg@sulzer.com

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)
Tower field services performing tray and packing installation, tower
and column maintenance, vessel 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

Distributed by:

22.54.06.40 - II.11 - 50 - Printed in Switzerland

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 indemnity for effects resulting from its application.