Flexible distillation test rig on a laboratory scale for characterization of additively manufactured packings

Abstract

Additive manufacturing is increasingly being used to develop innovative packings for absorption and desorption columns. Since distillation has not been in focus so far, this article aims to fill this gap. The objective is to obtain a miniaturized three dimensional (3D) printed packed column with optimized properties in terms of scalability and reproducibility, which increases process development efficiency. For this purpose, a flexible laboratory scale test rig is presented combining standard laboratory equipment with 3D printed components such as innovative multifunctional trays or the column wall with packing. The test rig offers a particularly wide operating range F ¼ 0:15Pa 0:5 …1:0Pa 0:5 for column diameters between 2 and 50mm. First results regarding the time to reach steady-state, operational stability, and separation efficiency measurements are presented using a 3D printable version of the Rombopak 9M. Currently, further developed and newly designed packing structures are being characterized, which should exhibit optimized properties especially with respect to scalability and separation efficiency.

Flexible 3D‐Printed Test Rig for Liquid Distribution Characterization of Laboratory‐Scale Packings

“…For the experimental examination, a 3D-printed version of the Rombopak 9M (RP9M-3D) from Ku ¨hni/Sulzer is used [11]. The detailed dimensions of the RP9M-3D along with an accurate tongue and groove stacking system, for proper packing orientation, are discussed elsewhere [2]. Six packing elements are stacked vertically to form a packed height H P = 540 mm.…”

“…In order to minimize scale-up errors, laboratory-scale columns should exhibit certain scalability characteristics. On the one hand, a separation efficiency independent of the gas load is desired [2]. On the other hand, a high reproducibility of the measurements is necessary.…”

“…AM allows for higher flexibility in packing and component design to address the aforementioned hurdles against further miniaturization. A previous publication presented a flexible laboratory distillation test rig for the experimental evaluation of the separation efficiency of 3D-printed packings [2]. The aim is to obtain innovative packings, at a diameter of 20 mm, that exhibit favorable scalability characteristics in terms of a high and non-variable separation efficiency.…”

Einfluss des additiven Fertigungsverfahrens auf die Gestalt einer Mikrorektifikationsapparatur

“…Die Rektifikation ist eine Standardtechnologie in der chemischen Verfahrenstechnik, die Wissenschaft und Technologie hinter diesem Grundverfahren kann ohne Vorbehalte als ausgereift bezeichnet werden. Das Ziel, Rektifikationskolonnen weiter zu verbessern, ist jedoch ungebrochen, auch mithilfe des 3D-Drucks [1][2][3][4][5]. Insbesondere besteht in der Mikroverfahrenstechnik ein wachsender Bedarf an kleinen, flexibel anpassbaren Apparaten fu ¨r modulare Anlagen [6,7].…”

Untersuchung der Flüssigkeitsverteilung in additiv gefertigten strukturierten Laborpackungen

“…Da die Betriebskosten in direktem Zusammenhang mit dem Durchmesser der Laborkolonne stehen, ist es vorteil-haft, diese mit mo ¨glichst kleinem Durchmesser zu fertigen. Prima ¨r werden dadurch Kosten durch Reduktion der einge-setzten Chemikalienmenge und geringere Sicherheitsanspru ¨che gesenkt [4]. Bei kleinen Durchmessern nimmt jedoch der Einfluss von Randeffekten u ¨berproportional zu.…”