PACKED TOWERS
Absorption. Stripping. NGL Stabilization.
Mass transfer column engineering -- from process design to certified fabrication, in one supplier.
Three Core Applications. One Certified Manufacturer.
Packed towers in oil and gas processing perform mass transfer between gas and liquid phases. Where a separator splits phases by physics, a packed tower drives a chemical or thermodynamic exchange between them -- absorbing contaminants, stripping dissolved gases, or stabilizing hydrocarbon liquid streams.
Acid Gas Absorption (Gas Sweetening)
Natural gas from oil wells frequently contains H₂S and CO₂ above pipeline specifications. Amine-based absorption in a packed contactor column is the industry-standard removal method. Gas enters the bottom, flows upward through packing, and contacts a lean amine solution flowing downward. LINSON OIL designs and fabricates both the absorber and the regeneration stripper as a matched pair.
Glycol Dehydration Contactor
Sales gas must meet strict water dew point specifications (-10°C to -40°C). Triethylene glycol (TEG) dehydration is the most common method: wet gas contacts lean TEG in a packed contactor column. Packing selection, liquid distribution design, and column internals directly determine dew point achievement and glycol carryover performance.
NGL Stabilization Column
Unstabilized NGL and condensate contain dissolved light components that cause excessive vapor pressure. An NGL stabilization column uses heat and reflux to drive light components overhead. LINSON OIL designs columns incorporating rectification and stripping sections, matching the inlet composition to the required Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) specification.
Sour Water Stripping
Produced water contains dissolved H₂S and ammonia (NH₃) which must be removed before disposal. A sour water stripper uses steam or heated gas stripping to drive dissolved H₂S and NH₃ out of the liquid phase. We size sour water strippers to achieve outlet H₂S concentrations meeting environmental discharge specifications.
Condensate Stabilization Unit -- Sinopec Northeast Bureau, Longfengshan
Rectification + stripping column design; light component removal from unstabilized condensate sourced from metering and production separators. Engineered and fabricated by LINSON OIL.
Mass Transfer Column Design
Packing, Internals, and Process Integration
The Role of Packing: Maximizing Contact Area
The fundamental function of a packed tower is to create as much gas-liquid contact area as possible within a given column volume. Packing -- whether structured metal sheets or random dumped elements -- replaces the liquid pools and downcomers of a tray column with a continuous wetted surface through which gas and liquid flow in countercurrent contact.
The greater the effective contact area per cubic meter of packing, and the lower the pressure drop per theoretical stage, the more efficient the mass transfer and the smaller the column required to achieve the separation duty.
Structured vs. Random Packing
Random Packing -- Dumped Elements
Pall rings, IMTP saddles, or Raschig rings dumped into the column. Tolerates fouling and suspended solids better than structured packing.
- Preferred for higher liquid rates and fouling tendencies
- Lower capital cost
- Less sensitive to maldistribution
Critical Column Internals
Packing alone does not determine column performance. The internal components that manage liquid and gas distribution are equally important:
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Liquid Distributor: Ensures uniform liquid distribution across the full column cross-section. Maldistribution is the most common cause of underperformance. Custom designed (trough-type, orifice-pipe type).
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Packing Support Plate: Supports the weight of the packing bed while allowing gas to pass upward with minimal restriction under design flooding safety margins.
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Liquid Collector / Redistributor: Gathers descending liquid and redistributes it across the next bed. Required for heights exceeding max bed height (typically 5-8 m for random packing).
Process Design -- What LINSON OIL Provides
- Column sizing (diameter, height, stages)
- Packing type selection & vendor coordination
- Flooding analysis & design safety margins
- Internals design (distributors, supports)
- P&ID development
- Process train integration
- Reboiler & condenser specification
Engineering Specifications
| Parameter | Standard Range / Notes |
|---|---|
| Column Diameter | DN400 - DN3000+ (Per process sizing) |
| Column Height (T/T) | 3 m - 30 m+ |
| Design Pressure | Full vacuum - 10.0 MPa (g) |
| Design Temperature | -20°C to +350°C |
| Shell Material | Q345R / 16MnDR / 316L SS / Clad plate |
| Corrosion Allowance | 2-3 mm standard (Higher for sour service) |
| Packing Type | Structured / Random |
| Packing Material | 316L SS / Carbon steel / Monel / Hastelloy |
| Liquid Distributor | Trough-type / Orifice-pipe type |
| Design Life | ≥ 10 years (Per GB 150) |
| Design Code | GB 150 / ASME VIII Div.1 |
| NDT & Testing | RT/UT/MT/PT; Hydrostatic at 1.25× DP |
Packing Selection Guide
| Application | Recommended | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Amine absorber | Structured (316L SS) | Low pressure drop; maximize efficiency |
| TEG dehydration | Structured (316L SS) | Low glycol inventory; minimize entrainment |
| NGL stabilization | Structured or Random | Per column pressure and fouling tendency |
| Sour water stripper | Random (316L SS) | Fouling tolerance; lower capital cost |
| Glycol regenerator | Random or Structured | Small diameter; random packing more flexible |
Standard Factory Configuration
- Column shell, heads, skirt
- Packing (factory installed or documented)
- Liquid distributors & collectors
- Packing support plates
- Vapor & Feed inlet distributors
- All process nozzles per P&ID
- Inspection manholes (≥ DN500)
- Surface treatment (internal/external)
OEM / ODM Customization Options
Process Engineering Expertise
Backed by Certified Manufacturing Infrastructure.
Key Certifications
- Special Equipment Mfg License: Pressure Vessels (A2 + High-Pressure)
- GB 150 design and fabrication compliance
- ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System
- CNAS Accredited Laboratory (RT, UT, MT, PT)
- Sinopec & CNPC HSE Certified Supplier
- 87 Patents including column internal design innovations
Process Design Review
Column sizing, packing selection, and internal design reviewed internally by engineers and submitted to the client. Catches conflicts before fabrication.
Material Traceability
All pressure-bearing materials procured with mill certificates. Traceability maintained from receipt through delivery. Special attention to amine/sour service.
Welding Qualification
WPS and PQR maintained. Post-weld heat treatment (PWHT) applied per GB 150 for amine columns to minimize stress corrosion cracking risks.
Internal Inspection & NDT
Distributors dimensionally inspected and levelness verified. CNAS-accredited NDT per weld class. Hydrostatic pressure test at ≥ 1.25× design pressure.
Packed Column Engineering
From Chinese NOC Projects to International Gas Processing.
Longfengshan Condensate Stabilization Unit
Rectification + stripping section design. Light component removal from unstabilized condensate. Designed to meet RVP specification while maximizing light hydrocarbon recovery.
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Onshore Terminal (2025 First-of-its-Kind)
NGL recovery and LNG liquefaction stages incorporating mass transfer column equipment. Designated as a 2025 Shandong Province First-of-its-Kind Equipment.
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NGL Recovery Phase I / II / III
Processing up to 300×10⁴ Nm³/d combined. Included absorption and stripping column stages for component separation and NGL product stabilization.
View DetailsIndustry-Leading Warranty
Standard 2 years from commissioning or 26 months from shipment.
Why 2 Years?
Packed column performance depends highly on correct process design and internal fabrication quality -- both are within LINSON OIL's direct control. Long-term partners enjoy up to 2.5 years.
After-Sales Support
- Remote consultation on performance & flooding
- Packing replacement planning
- Revamp & capacity upgrade engineering
- On-site commissioning support
Share Your Gas Composition and Product Spec. We'll Design the Column.
Packed tower projects start with process data, not with a catalog selection. Our process engineers will review your inlet composition, specifications, and operating conditions -- and respond with a column sizing basis, packing recommendation, and relevant project reference.
No generic quote. No automated reply.
Submit your process parameters and receive:
- Preliminary column sizing estimate (diameter, height, stages)
- Packing type and material recommendation
- Relevant project reference for your application
* Handled by LINSON OIL process engineers. Response within 24 business hours.
LINSON OIL -- 21+ Years | 5,000+ Projects | 87 Patents | Process Design + Certified Fabrication Under One Roof