Troubleshoot packed towers with radioisotopes

Abstract

Since the Raschig ring was developed in the early 1900s, packings have continuously increased in acceptance among the chemical and refining communities. Indeed, today, users can select from dozens of different types of packing, provided by a host of manufacturers. Packed-column design, however, still is considered by many to be more of an art than a science--and operational problems arise all too frequently. Determining why packing isn't performing up to design expectations can be challenging. Three techniques that use radioisotopes--grid scanning, tracing, and computer-assisted tomography (CAT) scanning--can serve as key diagnostic tools. Each of the methods has its areas of particular utility. In this article, the author discusses the appropriate uses of the techniques in turn, and give examples of where and how they have been used to identify packed-column problems. Together, the three techniques provide a potent arsenal for packed-column troubleshooting.