Berl Saddles
Berl saddles were the original type of saddle packing. The free gas space is
less than for rings, but with the better aerodynamic form, the pressure drop
is lower and the capacity larger. Recent improvements in Intalox saddles
and Pall rings mean that Berl saddles have largely been superseded, though
they still find application in vacuum distillation and in cases where high
contact efficiency is required. They are manufactured in both stoneware and
porcelain.
(iv) Intalox Saddles
Intalox saddies, together with Pall rings, now form the two most popular
choices of packing material. The shape of the Berl saddle has been modified
in the Tntalox so that adjacent elements do not blank off any significant
portion of the wetting liquid. No stagnant pools of liquid form and no gas
bubbles are trapped. These factors, combined with the smooth shape, mean
that liquid flows freely with the minimum of hold-up, and the gas is not
subjected to violent changes of direction. The result is that the capacity is
increased, and alow pressure drop observed.) Intalox saddles are available
in ceramics or plastics; the latter in a range designed to offer good corrosion
resistance to a large number of systems.(20)