02 / TOWER PACKING · STRUCTURED PACKING
Metal Structured Packing
High-efficiency corrugated sheet and wire gauze structured packing for vacuum and temperature-sensitive distillation, absorption and column revamps.
Metal structured packing
Metal structured packing arranges thin corrugated sheets or wire gauze in ordered layers to give high separation efficiency and low pressure drop — the preferred medium for vacuum distillation, temperature-sensitive separations and column revamps that must add capacity or efficiency. PCX supplies both geometries in stainless steel, carbon steel and special alloys, sourced from qualified international partners and supplied to your column specification across Thailand. Metal structured packing (โลหะ) ให้ประสิทธิภาพแยกสูงและความดันตกคร่อมต่ำ เหมาะกับหอกลั่นสุญญากาศและงานไวต่ออุณหภูมิ.
Perforated corrugated-plate structured packing
Metal Corrugated Sheet Packing
Perforated corrugated-sheet structured packing built from thin embossed metal sheets in ordered layers, each element rotated 90° about the column axis for uniform cross-mixing. Available with waffled, grooved or smooth surface texturing. Delivers higher capacity and/or efficiency than random packing or trays — a revamp raises separation performance while lowering pressure drop and the energy cost of distillation and absorption. More than ten corrugation types available.
- Stainless steel — 304 / 316
- Carbon steel
- Aluminium · bronze
- Special alloys
Applications: temperature-sensitive services needing many theoretical stages; low-liquid-load and vacuum distillation; amines, glycols, fatty acids, essential oils and fragrances; solvent recovery; ethylbenzene/benzene separation; absorption and regeneration towers
Sizes & specifications
| Model | Surface area (m²/m³) | Void (%) | Hydraulic dia. (mm) | Corrugation angle (°) | F-factor | Theoretical plates (per m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 125 X/Y | 125 | 98.5 | 18 | 30 / 45 | 3 | 1–1.2 |
| 250 X/Y | 250 | 97 | 15.8 | 30 / 45 | 2.6 | 2–3 |
| 350 X/Y | 350 | 96 | 11.5 | 30 / 45 | — | — |
| 450 X/Y | 450 | 93 | 9 | 30 / 45 | 1.5 | 3–4 |
| 500 X/Y | 500 | 93 | 8 | 30 / 45 | — | — |
X = 30° corrugation (higher capacity); Y = 45° (higher efficiency). F-factor in m/s(kg/m³)^½.
High-efficiency corrugated wire-mesh structured packing
Metal Wire Gauze Packing
Wire-gauze structured packing built from corrugated wire-mesh sheets set vertically, with the corrugation reversed in alternating sheets and each layer stacked at 90° to the one below. The fine mesh wets readily and gives the highest number of theoretical stages per metre of any packing type, with low pressure drop per stage and very low liquid hold-up. Most economical around an F-factor of 1.5–2, with a minimum liquid load of about 0.2 m³/m²·h.
- Stainless steel — 304 / 316
- Carbon steel
- Aluminium · bronze
- Special alloys
Applications: fine chemicals, flavours and fragrances, isomer separation; thermally sensitive materials; pilot and laboratory columns; column revamps; ethylbenzene/benzene separation; absorption and regeneration towers
Sizes & specifications
| Surface area (m²/m³) | Void (%) | Hydraulic dia. (mm) | Corrugation angle (°) | Bulk density (kg/m³) | F-factor | Theoretical plates (per m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 | 91 | 7.5 | 30 | 250 | 1.3–2.4 | 4–5 |
| 700 | 90 | 5 | 45 | 350 | 2.0–2.4 | 6–10 |
Wire gauze gives the highest number of theoretical stages per metre of any packing. F-factor in m/s(kg/m³)^½.
Frequently Asked Questions
Corrugated sheet or wire gauze — which metal structured packing should I choose?
Wire gauze gives the highest efficiency (the most theoretical stages per metre) and the lowest liquid hold-up, making it ideal for deep vacuum and high-purity or thermally sensitive separations. Corrugated sheet offers higher capacity and robustness at lower cost and is the usual choice for larger production columns and revamps. Send us your duty and we will recommend the geometry.
What do theoretical plates and F-factor mean?
Theoretical plates per metre indicate separation efficiency — more plates per metre means more separation in a shorter bed. F-factor is a gas-load parameter (superficial velocity × √gas density) used to size the column and stay below flooding. Both are listed in the tables above.
How is structured packing different from random packing?
Random packing is dumped into the bed, while structured packing is fabricated in ordered layers of corrugated sheet or gauze. Structured packing gives higher efficiency and lower pressure drop per stage — preferred for vacuum and high-purity distillation — while random packing is lower cost and more fouling-tolerant. We supply both.
What metals and alloys are available?
Stainless steel 304 / 316, carbon steel, aluminium, bronze and special alloys — selected to suit the process chemistry, temperature and column diameter.
Do you supply metal structured packing in Thailand, and how do I get a quotation?
Yes. PCX supplies metal structured packing across Thailand, sourced from qualified international partners and supplied to your specification. Send us the service, required stages, column diameter and alloy — or your column data — and we will return a quotation.
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