The conventional approach for the increase of capacity of a plant includes hardware modificationsfor enabling a higher hydraulic load. The hydraulic throughput of a column can usuallybe increased by installing larger packing, but simultaneously the separation performancein terms of theoretical trays is decreased, thus limiting any effect. The application ofsandwich packing instead of conventional column internals offers a most efficient solution tothis problem, because it provides more separation efficiency in combination with a higherhydraulic capacity.This paper gives an overview on the research work in a pilot scale column furnished withsandwich packing. The positive results encouraged the application of a sandwich packing infull commercial scale in one bed of the absorber of BASF’s butadiene plant from which firstexperience is now available.
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