Investigation of Crystallization Fouling on Column Internals using a Screening Test Rig

Fouling on column internals leads to many malfunctions in chemical processes every year. Despite the importance for the industry, only a few systematic studies exist on the fouling of column internals. Here, a new screening test rig is presented for the rapid and easy characterization of a wide range of internals with respect to their fouling tolerance. A countercurrent of saturated NaCl/water solution and air is used to force crystallization fouling. Photographs help to identify the initial points of fouling on two random packings and provide insights into the growth of deposits. In addition, the fouling tolerance of five different trays is investigated, demonstrating that trays with larger curtain area show greater fouling tolerance. A new screening test rig allows the rapid and simple characterization of a wide range of internals regarding their tolerance to crystallization fouling. Photographs taken during the investigations identify the initial points and growth of the deposits. Trays with a large curtain area show high tolerance to fouling. image