Common Types (Based on Corrugation Geometry):

Mellapak® (Sulzer): One of the most widely used; corrugations at a 45° angle. Available in various specific surface areas (e.g., 125, 250, 350, 500 m²/m³).

Montz Pack® (Montz): Similar to Mellapak but often with a slightly different crimp angle or geometry.

BX Packing: A high-capacity, lower-efficiency structured packing with wider channels and a lower surface area.

CY Packing: Similar to BX but with a different crimp angle.

Flexipac® (Koch-Glitsch): Another major type with various configurations.

Gempak® (Norton): Yet another common variant.

Applications:

Refining & Petrochemicals: Crude distillation, FCC fractionation, aromatics extraction (e.g., BTX), gas plants.

Chemical Processing: Fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals, methanol, ammonia, chlorine processing.

Natural Gas Processing: Dehydration, NGL recovery, acid gas removal (e.g., amine units).

Environmental: CO2 capture, VOC abatement, air stripping.

Fermentation & Bio-processes: Ethanol production, beer stripping.

Selection Considerations:

Process Requirements: Separation difficulty (efficiency needed), liquid/vapor flow rates, pressure, temperature, corrosivity.

Specific Surface Area: A higher surface area (e.g., 500 m²/m³) provides higher efficiency but lower capacity/higher pressure drop than lower area types (e.g., 125 m²/m³).

Corrugation Angle: 45° is standard; 30° can offer slightly different hydraulic characteristics.

Material Compatibility: Must withstand the chemical environment.

Column Diameter: Structured packing is highly effective in large diameter columns.

Cost: Generally more expensive than random packing but often justified by performance.

In summary: Metal corrugated plate structured packing is the benchmark for high-performance mass transfer in industrial columns. Its ordered geometry delivers exceptional efficiency, low pressure drop, and high capacity, making it the preferred choice for demanding separation applications where energy costs and throughput are critical.