Diameter & Heat Area - Packed Tower Calculator

Input DataF-factor

Vaporization rate G

kg/h

Molecular weight MW

kg/kmol

Average column temperature T

°C

F-factor

(m/s)(kg/m³)^½

Latent heat of vaporization H

kcal/kg

Heating steam temperature Tg

°C

Bottom liquid temperature Tw

°C

Reboiler heat-transfer coefficient K1

kcal/(m²·h·°C)

Condenser coefficient K2

kcal/(m²·h·°C)

Subcooling coefficient K3

kcal/(m²·h·°C)

Average temperature after cooling T2

°C

Lower F-factor for vacuum operation.

Input DataLiquid Distributor

Feed rate

kg/h

Reflux rate

kg/h

Distributor liquid height h

Column diameter

Input DataPipe Sizing

Flow rate

kg/h

Density

kg/m³

Design velocity u

m/s

Packing F-factor Table

Operation	Typical F-factor (m/s)(kg/m³)^½
Vacuum	0.6 – 1.0
Atmospheric	1.0 – 1.5
Pressurized	1.5 – 2.0

Random packings

Packing type	Size	F-factor (m/s)(kg/m³)^½	Plates/m nt	ΔP/tray (Pa)	S=F·nt	W (kg/m³)	w′	a (m²/m³)	a′
Pall ring	25 mm	1.8	2.5	197	4.5	285	63	219	49
Pall ring	38 mm	2.2	2	243	4.4	228	52	129	29
Pall ring	50 mm	2.5	1.5	240	3.8	198	52	112	29
CMR	25 mm	1.8	2.6	170	4.7	293	62	220	47
CMR	38 mm	2.2	2.1	210	4.6	297	65	154	33
Intalox saddle	25 mm	1.8	2.6	185	4.7	233	50	185	39
Intalox saddle	38 mm	2.2	2.2	148	4.9	228	47	112	23
Intalox saddle	50 mm	2.6	1.6	156	4.2	146	35	75	18

Structured packings

Packing type	Size	F-factor (m/s)(kg/m³)^½	Plates/m nt	ΔP/tray (Pa)	S=F·nt	W (kg/m³)	w′	a (m²/m³)	a′
Mellapak	125Y	3.2	1.2	170	3.8	125	33	125	33
Mellapak	250Y	2.6	2.5	110	6.5	200	31	250	38
Mellapak	350Y	2.2	3.5	57	7.7	280	36	350	45
Mellapak	500Y	1.8	4	75	7.2	300	42	500	69
Mellapak	125X	3.5	0.9	156	3.2	125	39	125	39
Mellapak	250X	3.2	2	90	6.4	200	31	250	39
Mellapak	350X	2.7	2.6	50	7	280	40	350	50
Mellapak	500X	2.4	3	60	7.2	300	42	500	69
Sulzer	AX	3.2	2.5	40	8	125	16	250	31
Sulzer	BX	2.5	4.8	50	12	250	21	500	42
Sulzer	CY	1.8	9	67	16	350	22	700	44
Montzpak	B1-300	2.4	3.5	110	8.4	242	29	300	36
Montzpak	A1-400	2.2	5	50	11	240	22	400	36
Gempak	A2T	2.8	2.4	130	6.7	165	25	230	34
Ralupak	250Yc	2.6	3	90	7.8	290	37	250	32

Lower F-factor for vacuum operation.

Reference Data

Heating media temperature

Heating media	°C
Low-pressure steam	150
Medium-pressure steam	190

Estimated heating K values

Equipment	K (kcal/(m²·h·°C))
Glass-lined vessel	300
Falling-film evaporator	500
Stainless steel vessel	500
Carbon steel vessel	500
Coil	800

Cooling water temperature control

Coolant	Inlet (°C)	Outlet (°C)
Hot water circulation	60	70
Cooling water	25	35
Chilled water	10	15
Single brine	-12	-9
Double brine	-40	-37

Minimum liquid flow vs column diameter

Column diameter (mm)	200	300	400	500	600	700	800	900	1000
Minimum flow (l/h)	95	210	375	590	840	1140	1500	1900	2350

Mixed vapor density by pressure (kg/m³)

Operating pressure (MPa)	Back pressure (MPa)
	0	0.12	0.5
0.12	15.7	—	—
0.5	6.4	21.5	—
1.5	3.7	10	45

Applies to other turbulent piping systems as well. For steam condensate piping, mixed density ≈ 900 kg/m³.

Column Diameter & Heat-Transfer Area