Tower Internals

Tower internals refers to the various components that are installed inside a tower or column used for chemical or physical separation processes in industries such as oil and gas, petrochemicals, and pharmaceuticals. The design of tower internals plays a critical role in determining the efficiency and effectiveness of separation processes.

Some common types of tower internals

Trays: Trays are horizontal platforms that are installed inside a tower at various levels. They provide a surface area for liquid and gas to interact and allow for separation by gravity. The most common types of trays include sieve trays, valve trays, bubble cap trays, and fixed valve trays.

• Packings: Packings are typically used in packed columns and consist of a bed of inert materials that provide a large surface area for mass transfer. Common materials used for packing include metal, plastic, and ceramic. The most common types of packings include structured packings, random packings, and high-performance packings.
• Demisters: Demisters are devices that are used to remove liquid droplets from a gas stream. They typically consist of a mesh or vane structure that causes the droplets to coalesce and fall back into the liquid phase.
• Distributors: Distributors are devices that are used to evenly distribute a liquid stream across the tower's cross-sectional area. They can be in the form of trays, weirs, or nozzles.
• Liquid redistributors: Liquid redistributors are used to redistribute the liquid phase across the tray or packing surface. They can be in the form of pipes or troughs.
• Internals supports: Internals supports are used to support the weight of the tower internals and ensure proper alignment. They can be in the form of beams, hangers, or brackets.
• Instrumentation: Instrumentation is used to monitor and control the tower's performance. Common instrumentation includes temperature sensors, pressure gauges, and flow meters.

The design and selection of tower internals depend on the specific process requirements, such as the types of materials being separated, the flow rates, and the desired separation efficiency.

Materials of the tower internals

The materials used for tower internals are chosen based on a number of factors, including the following:

• The type of tower and the process it is used for
• The operating conditions of the tower, such as temperature, pressure, and corrosiveness
• The cost of the materials
• The availability of the materials
• The regulatory requirements

The Most Common Materials Used for Tower Internals

• Carbon steel: This is a relatively inexpensive material that is often used for towers that are not exposed to harsh conditions.
• Stainless steel: This is a more expensive material that is resistant to corrosion. It is often used for towers that are used to process corrosive materials.
• Titanium: This is a very expensive material that is highly resistant to corrosion. It is often used for towers that are used to process very corrosive materials.
• Ceramics: This is a material that is resistant to high temperatures and corrosion. It is often used for towers that are used to process high-temperature or corrosive materials.
• Plastics: This is a relatively inexpensive material that is easy to work with. It is often used for towers that are used to process non-corrosive materials.

The type of material used for tower internals will have a significant impact on the performance of the tower. It is important to select the right type of material for the specific application.