2 replies to this topic

[ben1099]

Hi. Does anyone happen to know what are the typical materials of construction and reasons for using them in a distillation column?

[pleckner]

There is no quick answer to your quesiton as there are no "typical" materials of construction. You need to choose the proper metallurgy compatible with your system based on what you are treating and the pressures and temperatures.

Stainless Steel (304 or 316) is probably most common for many systems but you cannot use this as a blanket statement.

Perhaps if you have a specific system in mind, you can obtain a better answer.

[smalawi]

Hi,

carbon steel is the most used matrial in the industry. it cheeper and workes fine for a large number on applicaitons and one will try to alter it to a deferent method only if you have stronge resons.

most of the columns i have seen are made of carbon steel. for some services corrosion is a major issue and one will need a superior material such as stailness steel 304/316. in these situations, only a layer of the stainless steel will be used, the resut of the column is all carbon steel. the layer will be calded or wielded to the shell of the column. of course the trays have to be all of stailness steel.

you can find out what material to use from crrosion charts easly avalaible on the web. of course practical experiance is the final judge.

cheers,