A bed of random packing typically consists of a bed support (typically a gas injection support plate) upon which pieces of packing material are randomly arranged (they are usually poured or dumped onto this support plate). Bed limiters, or hold-downs, are sometimes set above random beds to prevent the pieces of packing from migrating or entraining upward. Random packing comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. For a given shape (design) of packing, small sizes have higher efficiencies and lower capacities than large sizes.
Figure 6-8 shows a variety of random packing designs. An early design is known as a Raschig ring. Raschig rings are short sections of tubing and are low-capacity, low-efficiency, high-pressure drop devices. Today’s industry standard is the slotted metal (Pall) ring. A packed bed made of 1-in. slotted metal rings will have a higher mass transfer efficiency and a higher capacity than will a bed of 1-in. Raschig rings. The HETP for a 2-in, slotted metal ring in a condensate stabilizer is about 36 in. This is slightly more than a typical tray design, which would require 34 in. (1.4 trays x 24-in. tray spacing) for one theoretical plate or stage.
