Nordstone | Distillation Column

Introduction

A Distillation Column is a vertical column-type pressure vessel used for the phase separation of liquid mixtures based on differences in boiling points. It is one of the most critical equipment used in refineries, petrochemical plants, and chemical industries to achieve high-purity product separation efficiently. At NORDSTONE, we design and manufacture high-performance distillation columns compliant with ASME Section VIII Div.1, TEMA, and API standards.

What is a Distillation Column?

A distillation column enables fractional separation by leveraging the difference in component volatilities. It typically consists of:

Vertical cylindrical shell
Internal trays or packing
Feed, vapor, & liquid distribution systems
Reboiler & condenser connections
Overhead vapor outlets & bottom withdrawal lines

Types of Distillation Columns

1) Tray Column
- Uses sieve, valve, or bubble-cap trays
- High separation efficiency for multi-component mixtures
2) Packed Column
- Uses random or structured packing
- Low pressure drop & high capacity
3) Fractionating Column
- Used for crude oil distillation & chemical fractionation
- Handles high vapor & liquid traffic
4) Rectifying Column
Provides high-purity overhead vapor and often paired with stripping systems.
5) Stripping Column
Used to remove less volatile components from liquid mixtures.

Key Features of Our Distillation Columns:

✔ High Separation Efficiency
- Optimized tray/packing design
- Effective vapor-liquid contact
- High product purity
✔ Robust Mechanical Design
- ASME Sec VIII Div.1 compliant
- TEMA & API design integration
- Wind, seismic, and thermal stress analysis
✔ Wide Material Selection
- Carbon Steel – SA516 Gr.60/70
- Stainless Steel – SS304 / SS316
- Duplex / Super Duplex
- Nickel alloys (Inconel, Hastelloy)
✔ Easy Inspection & Maintenance
- Removable trays & packing
- Multiple manways for inspection

Design & Engineering Considerations:

Vapor–liquid equilibrium (VLE) modeling
Mass transfer & pressure drop optimization
Reboiler & condenser integration
Structural stress, wind & seismic analysis
Nozzle reinforcement & thermal expansion checks

Operational Parameters:
• Design Pressure: Vacuum to 150 bar
• Temperature: –50°C to +450°C
• Diameter: 0.5 m to 6 m
• Height: 3 m to 60 m

Applications

Oil & Gas – Crude fractionation, LPG recovery
Chemicals – Solvent recovery & purification
Pharmaceutical – High-purity compound separation
Environmental – VOC recovery & waste solvent separation

Quality Assurance & Testing

Hydrostatic & pneumatic testing
Radiographic & ultrasonic testing
Dye penetrant & magnetic particle tests
Full weld inspection & material traceability (MTC 3.1)
Third-party inspection – TUV, BV, DNV, Lloyds, SGS

Optional Features & Packages

Skid-mounted or free-standing design
Multi-effect operation & reflux control
Instrumentation ports (level, temp, pressure)
Vacuum distillation capability
External insulation & cladding
Anti-corrosion internal coatings

Why Choose NORDSTONE?

20+ years of expertise in pressure vessel manufacturing
ASME-certified fabrication for global compliance
Advanced thermal & mechanical design capability
Comprehensive QA/QC & third-party inspection support
Installed base across oil & gas, chemical & pharma sectors

Distillation Column – Column-Type Pressure Vessels