How Stripping Units Boost Process Plant Performance

Introduction

Stripping is a critical step in removing volatile and unwanted light components from process liquids. With tightening regulatory standards and the demand for improved efficiency, Sulzer's stripping units are engineered to raise the bar for column performance and operational economics.

Core Performance Advantages

• Enhanced Column Throughput

  • Sulzer’s customized internals and packing achieve higher capacity, letting process columns handle increased flow without sacrificing product quality or separation efficiency.

• Improved Mass Transfer & Separation

  • Advanced column hardware ensures optimal contact between vapor and liquid phases, boosting the removal rate for contaminants, solvents, and light chemicals.

• Reduced Pressure Drop

  • Optimized design minimizes resistance within the column, leading to lower utility costs for a given separation duty.

• Superior Energy Efficiency

  • Sulzer’s solutions are designed to minimize steam or stripping agent consumption. This delivers substantial operational savings and supports environmental goals.

• Flexible Implementation

  • Stripping units can be provided as part of new builds, brownfield upgrades, or as skid-mounted packages with integrated controls for rapid deployment and process integration.

    
    

Typical Applications

• Hydrocarbon purification in refineries and petrochemical complexes

• Stripping solvents or VOCs from wastewater in chemical plants

• Ensuring discharge water complies with environmental regulations

• Product recovery: capturing valuable light chemicals for reuse or resale

  
  

Snapshot Table: Process Gains

Application Area	Process Gain
Hydrocarbon purification	Reduced emissions, higher product yield
Wastewater stripping	Regulatory compliance, safer discharge
Product recovery	Less waste, increased profitability

Why Sulzer?

• Experience & Validation: Decades of expertise, supported by simulation and in-house pilot tests, ensure every system is optimized and reliable for site-specific demands.

• Custom Engineering: Solutions are tailored for your process, fluid properties, and plant goals.

• Documented Compliance: Full simulation data and performance records simplify audits and environmental reporting.

  
  

Conclusion

Sulzer’s stripping units deliver demonstrably higher performance for process columns, making plants more efficient, flexible, and compliant. Whether upgrading existing assets or investing in new capacity, Sulzer’s technology is a proven route to optimized plant operation and long-term success.