Sulzer Chemtech and SGL Group extend co-operation related to column internals

Sulzer Chemtech, a leader for separation and mixing technology, and SGL Group, a manufacturer worldwide of products made from carbon, are expanding their co-operation in the field of column internals based on SGL’s carbon fibre composite materials (CFC) going by the brand name SIGRABOND.

Carbon and graphite products are used whenever other materials such as steel, aluminium, copper or plastic fail due to their limited material properties like for example temperature and corrosion resistance.



In addition to the CFC structured packing that has already been marketed successfully under the Sulzer brand name MellaCarbon, the existing CFC column internals portfolio – mainly support systems – is now completed with liquid distributors, collectors and feed pipes made of SIGRABOND.

“The new column internals, introduced under the brand name MellaCarbon, are as corrosion-resistant as graphite liquid distributors used to date, but are at the same time lighter, stronger, stiffer, more rigid and more temperature resistant than plastics and have lower cost than special metals.

“An innovative connection system enables the realisation of larger diameters and allows cost efficient production,” explains Ralph Spuller, SGL project manager for the cooperation project.

In recent months, more than 30 new CFC liquid distributors have been designed, manufactured and successfully commissioned for industrial applications – often with the associated MellaCarbon packings, support grids and feed tubes. This is the first time that a complete family of CFC based column internals has been made available to customers of the cooperation partners worldwide.

The often-difficult combination of materials, especially for corrosive applications, is no longer necessary.