Packing Support Plates

The basic purposes of a Packing Support Plate are twofold: one, to physically support the weight of the packed bed, and two, to allow separate passages for the liquid and gas streams, so as not to have the streams struggle for the same passageway. Packing support plates are available in many different configurations and designs. Most often, for gas injection plates, a beam type design is utilized to maximize surface area. Gas injection plates can be constructed of ceramic, FRP, plastics, and a variety of exotic alloys. For randomly dumped packing, a grating type support plate is an option. A grate support is basically just that, a grate laid out to support the weight of the packing; usually constructed of fiberglass, stainless steel, or an exotic alloy.