Selection of inert porcelain balls inside the packed tower

Hello everyone, our factory specializes in ceramic balls. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me. Thank you.

Could someone upstairs explain the principles for selecting internal inert ceramic balls in a packed tower (catalytic fixed-bed)?

Regarding the selection of the size of inert ceramic balls, it should be determined based on the size of the catalysts. Generally, the 2X rule (or grading principle) is followed: the diameter of the ceramic balls should be twice that of the adjacent catalysts. This ensures the most even distribution of the flow, minimizes pressure drop, and optimizes the reactor performance. For this specific unit, the selection and arrangement of the ceramic balls are as follows: 1/4'' Denstone 99 inert ceramic balls, 150mm; 1/8'' UOP 3A-EPG molecular sieve; 1/4'' Denstone 99 inert ceramic balls, 150mm. Please pay special attention to the following: 1) A 20-mesh floating screen should be placed between the upper layer of ceramic balls and the molecular sieve; 2) No screen is needed between the lower layer of ceramic balls and the molecular sieve

Special note: Do not choose or use other ordinary porcelain balls. The main components of ceramic balls are alumina and silica. When ordinary ceramic balls are used, silicon is released from the silicon/aluminum system through various reaction mechanisms: 2H2O(g) + SiO2(s) → Si(OH)4; 3H2O(g) + 2SiO2(s) → Si2O5(OH)6; H2(dry) + SiO2(s) → H2O(g) + SiO(g) ↑ The dissolved silicon can cause the ceramic balls to clump together, block the catalyst bed, and accumulate on downstream equipment. Many people in the domestic design industry, end-users, porcelain ball manufacturers, catalyst suppliers, and others have not noticed this issue. However, in reality, many plants have experienced shutdowns due to increased reactor pressure drop caused by caking of ceramic balls. Many people in China emphasize a high aluminum content, such as 80% alumina content; however, in reality, even when the aluminum content is 80%, there is still a lot of silicon present, which poses a risk of caking. Users abroad all choose low-silicon ceramic balls; note that it is the low silicon content that is important here, as it helps to prevent such issues from occurring. The alumina content of Saint-Gobain’s Denstone 99 low-silica ceramic balls is greater than 99%, while the silica content is less than 0.2%.

Regarding Saint-Gobain Denstone inert ceramic balls: The company Saint-Gobain, based in France and founded in 1665, is ranked among the top 100 companies on the Fortune 500 list; it is world-famous for producing industrial ceramic materials. Saint-Gobain Denstone inert ceramic balls have been the most widely used ceramic balls in the world for over 60 years, serving as the industrial standard thanks to their unparalleled stability and reliability. BP, Dow, Basf, ExxonMobil, UOP, Linder, and others are all its global customers. Saint-Gobain (Guanghan) Ceramsite Co., Ltd. possesses the world’s largest and most advanced ceramic ball production facility, offering Chinese customers localized services, competitive prices, and products of world-class quality. Saint-Gobain (Guanghan) Ceramsite Co., Ltd. Factory Department: Nanxing Town, Guanghan City, Sichuan Province, 618305 Sales Department: 17th Floor, Ocean Building, No. 550 Yan’an East Road, Shanghai, 200001 Phone: 86-21-6361 5212 Fax: 86-21-6322 2909 Mobile: 13661513918 Email: Ray.liu@saint-gobain.com www.denstone.com