Column internals packing support plates

As indicated above, packed column internals include hqiiid distributors, packing support plates, redistributors (as needed), and holddown plates (to prevent movement of packing under flow conditions). Costs of these internals for columns with random packing are given in Fig. 14-80, based on early 1976 prices, and a Marshall and Swift cost index of 460. 

FIG. 14-80 Cost of internal devices for columns containing dumped packings, a) Holddown plates and support plates, (h) Redistributors, (c) Liquid distributors. [Pikulik and Diaz, Cbem. Eng., 84(21), 106 (Oct. 10, 1977).]... 

Each SynChropak column is tested chromatographically to assure that it has been packed according to specifications. For SynChropak GPC columns, a mixture of a high molecular weight DNA and glycyltyrosine, a dipeptide, is used to evaluate internal volume and efficiency. The mobile phase used for the test is 0.1 M potassium phosphate, pH 7, and the flow rate is 0.5 ml/min for 4.6-mm i.d. columns. Minimum plate count values and operational flow rates are listed in Table 10.4 for 4.6-mm i.d. columns of all supports and the various diameters of the SynChropak GPC 100 columns. 

Adsorbers, distillation colunuis, and packed lowers are more complicated vessels and as a result, the potential exists for more serious hazards. These vessels are subject to tlie same potential haz. uds discussed previously in relation to leaks, corrosion, and stress. However, llicse separation columns contain a wide variety of internals or separation devices. Adsorbers or strippers usually contain packing, packing supports, liquid distributors, hold-down plates, and weirs. Depending on tlie physical and chemical properties of the fluids being passed tlirough tlie tower, potential liazards may result if incompatible materials are used for llie internals. Reactivity with llie metals used may cause undesirable reactions, which may lead to elevated temperatures and pressures and, ullinialely, to vessel rupture. Distillation columns may contain internals such as sieve trays, bubble caps, and valve plates, wliicli are also in conlacl with tlie... 

Design the column internals plates, distributors, packing supports. 

Figure 1335. Packed column and internals, (a) Example packed column with a variety of internals [Chen, Chem. Eng. 40, (5 Mar. 1984)]. (b) Packing support and redistributor assembly, (c) Trough-type liquid distributor, (d) Perforated pipe distributor, (e) Rosette redistributor for small towers. (0 Hold-down plate, particularly for low density packing.

In open tubular colvunns, because the thin hquid film is deposited directly on the wall of the column rather than the sohd supports, the A term is zero, therefore ehminating one of the major contributor to zone broadening. Comparing to packed columns, the resistance to mass transfer is also reduced in both the hquid phase due to the apphcation of very thin film of the stationary phase, and in the mobile phase due to the apphcation of very narrow internal diameter columns. The typical open tubular colmnns have an internal diameter of 0.25 mm and a film thickness of 0.25 pm. A combination of ah these factors makes for the fact that capillary GC columns have much lower plate height value and substantiaUy more theoretical plates. The effect of carrier gas and hnear velocity on capihary column efficiency is illustrated in Figure 4, which shows a family of van Deemter plots for common carrier gases. 

In packed columns, manholes should be positioned so that distributors, redistributors, and other internals can be accessed. Usually, manholes are located above each bed support plate, above the top distributor, and at the bottom of the column. Locating manholes above the support plates also permits removal of packing from the bed above. 

The multiple phase contact inside the column is promoted by internal mass transfer equipment. Three groups of mass transfer equipment are commonly differentiated, which are separation trays, random packings and structured packings. Besides mass transfer equipment, further column internals are required in rectification to ensure the proper operation of the mass transfer equipment. Such internals may include support and hold-down plates, liquid distributors and redistributors, vapour distributor devices, gas-liquid phase separators and liquid collectors that usually do not participate on mass transfer. 

Historically, GC was first performed using packed columns. Such columns were usually made of coiled metal or glass tubes, with length of 1 to 5 m and internal diameter of a few millimeters. These were packed with small particles of sohd support coated with nonvolatile liquid stationary phases. The solid particles themselves played the role of the stationary phase in GSC. Packed columns were characterized by poor efficiencies related to multiple flow paths among the packing particles (the A term in the van Deemter equation), as well as uneven distribution of the hquid phase within the particles and at the contact points between the particles. The number of theoretical plates in packed columns was several thousand at the most, therefore improvements in resolution were usually achieved by the use of more selective stationary phases. Consequently, hundreds of different stationary phases were available at the peak of packed column development. 

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