Plastic Hollow Ring Packing | PP/PE Plastic Ripple Ring for Cooling & Absorption Tower
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"description": "Plastic hollow ring packing (ripple ring) in PP and PE. Designed for cooling towers and gas absorption columns. High voidage (≥90%), low pressure drop, excellent chemical resistance.",
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Figure 1: PP Plastic Hollow Ring (Ripple Ring) packing — showing the characteristic corrugated surface and hollow center for high voidage.
Plastic Hollow Ring Packing | PP/PE Plastic Ripple Ring for Cooling & Absorption Tower
Engineer's Brief: Plastic Hollow Ring Packing (commonly called Ripple Ring) is a cost-effective random packing with a corrugated outer wall and hollow core. The ripple design increases surface turbulence without sacrificing void space, delivering 15–20% better mass transfer than standard Raschig rings at half the pressure drop of solid saddles. Made in PP (polypropylene) or PE (polyethylene), it excels in cooling towers, scrubbers, and general absorption service.
1. What Is a Plastic Hollow Ring (Ripple Ring)?
Unlike a smooth-walled Raschig ring, the ripple ring features a series of transverse corrugations (ripples) on its cylindrical wall. This simple modification creates micro-turbulence as liquid flows over the surface, breaking up laminar films and improving gas-liquid contact. The hollow core maintains ≥ 90% voidage, so gas can rise freely even in deep beds.
Key geometric advantages:
• Corrugated Wall: Increases effective wetted surface area by 20–30% vs. smooth rings of the same nominal size.
• Hollow Core: Maintains low resistance to gas flow — typical pressure drop < 80 Pa/m at operating load.
• Light Weight: PP density = 0.91 g/cm³ — packing beds weigh 60% less than ceramic equivalents, reducing tower structural load.
• Self-Alignment: Random dumping naturally positions rings to minimize nesting (unlike smooth Raschig rings which tend to stack).
Figure 2: Close-up of ripple ring corrugated wall — the transverse ridges create surface turbulence for better liquid spreading.
2. Standard Specifications & Dimensions
FXSINO manufactures ripple rings in five standard sizes. Custom sizes available on request.
Nominal Size (mm)
Actual OD × H (mm)
Surface Area (m²/m³)
Voidage (%)
Pieces per m³
Packing Factor (F)
25
25 × 25
185–200
≥ 90
~52,000
140
38
38 × 38
130–145
≥ 92
~16,000
92
50
50 × 50
100–110
≥ 93
~6,500
65
63
63 × 63
80–90
≥ 94
~3,200
48
76
76 × 76
65–75
≥ 95
~1,800
36
Note: Data above are industry-standard reference values. Contact FXSINO for certified performance curves and实测 (measured) data.
3. Material Selection: PP vs. PE
Both polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) offer excellent chemical resistance, but they differ in temperature tolerance and mechanical stiffness:
Property
Polypropylene (PP)
Polyethylene (PE)
Max Continuous Temp
100°C
80°C
Density (g/cm³)
0.90–0.91
0.94–0.96
Stiffness / Creep
Higher stiffness, better at elevated temp
More flexible, prone to creep above 60°C
Chemical Resistance
Excellent to acids, alkalis, solvents
Excellent to acids, alkalis; slightly better to some organics
UV Resistance
Poor (additive required for outdoor)
Moderate (black PE has carbon black UV protection)
Typical Color
White, Beige, Custom
Natural (milky), Black
Best For
Hot water cooling, steam stripping, general absorption
Ambient cooling towers, outdoor scrubbers (black PE)
Figure 3: Material comparison — white PP (left) and black PE (right) ripple rings. PE offers better UV resistance for outdoor cooling towers.
4. Performance Comparison
How does the ripple ring stack up against other common plastic random packings?
Packing Type (50mm)
Voidage (%)
ΔP @ F=1.5 (Pa/m)
HETP (m)
Relative Cost
Ripple Ring (PP)
93–94
60–80
0.6–0.8
$$
Plastic Pall Ring
90–92
80–100
0.5–0.7
$$
Plastic Saddle (Intalox)
78–82
120–150
0.7–1.0
$
Multi-ball Hollow Ball
≥ 95
40–60
1.2–1.5
$
Verdict: Ripple rings offer the best balance of low pressure drop and good mass transfer for cooling & absorption. Choose Pall rings if you need maximum efficiency (lower HETP); choose ripple rings if you need maximum throughput with acceptable efficiency.
5. Application Guide
• Cooling Towers (Cross-flow & Counter-flow): Black PE ripple rings resist UV and handle ambient-to-warm water (up to 80°C). The high voidage prevents clogging from suspended solids in open-loop systems. Bed depth typically 1.2–2.0m.
• Gas Absorption (SO2, HCl, NH3, CO2): PP ripple rings handle hot, corrosive scrubbing liquids. The corrugated surface promotes thin-film liquid spreading, improving solute transfer. Packed bed depth 2–4m depending on removal efficiency target.
• Stripping / Steam Desorption: PP grade handles up to 100°C saturated steam. Often used in wastewater strippers for VOC removal.
• Bio-film Reactors: The ripple surface provides extra anchoring points for microbial growth compared to smooth rings. Used in trickling filters and MBBR hybrid systems.
6. Installation & Bed Depth
Dumping Method: Pour rings evenly across tower cross-section. Do NOT drop from excessive height (> 3m) — use a chute or sock to prevent breakage of thin-wall PE rings.
Support Grid: Use a camel hump support grid with open area ≥ 80%. Bar spacing must be ≤ 0.6 × nominal ring size (e.g., ≤ 15mm for 25mm rings).
Bed Limiter: For vacuum or high-gas-velocity service, install a bed limiter / hold-down plate to prevent fluidization. Light PP/PE rings are especially prone to lifting.
Settling Allowance: Plastic rings can settle 2–5% after initial operation due to nesting and creep. Add 3% extra volume to initial charge.
Liquid Distribution: Critical for uniform wetting. Use a liquid distributor with ≥ 50 drip points per m² for 25–38mm sizes; ≥ 25 points/m² for 50mm+.
Figure 4: Ripple ring packing being charged into a counter-flow cooling tower — even distribution ensures uniform water spread and gas contact.
7. Quick FAQ
Q: Ripple ring vs. Pall ring — which should I choose?
A: Pall rings have internal windows (fingers) that create more internal surface contact, giving slightly better mass transfer (lower HETP). Ripple rings have no windows, so they're simpler to mold and cost less, while the corrugated wall still provides good turbulence. Choose Pall rings for distillation/efficiency-critical service; choose ripple rings for cooling, rough absorption, and cost-sensitive projects.
Q: Can I use PP ripple rings in a hot water cooling tower (> 80°C)?
A: PP grade handles up to 100°C continuously, so it's fine for most hot water applications (cooling tower return water is typically 40–55°C). If your tower sees intermittent spikes above 100°C, consider PVDF or PTFE-lined alternatives — contact FXSINO for high-temp options.
Q: How much does a cubic meter of ripple ring packing weigh?
A: Bulk density depends on size and material. For 50mm PP ripple rings, expect ~55–65 kg/m³ (including ~5% void settling). PE is slightly heavier at ~70–80 kg/m³. This is light enough that most towers don't need structural reinforcement — unlike ceramic packings at 700+ kg/m³.
Get a Quote for Plastic Hollow Ring Packing
FXSINO is a manufacturer of tower packing & internals — plastic ripple rings, Pall rings, support grids, and liquid distributors. Custom sizes, PP/PE/PVDF materials, shipped worldwide.
Tell us your tower diameter, bed depth, service fluid (cooling water, acid scrubbing, etc.), operating temperature, and preferred material (PP or PE). We'll recommend the right ring size, calculate total volume, and provide a same-day quote with lead time. FXSINO supplies complete packed tower solutions — from support grids and bed limiters to liquid distributors.
Contact FXSINO: jackieqiu9202@gmail.com | +86 18507999558
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Address : Intersection of Jinguang Avenue and Chongqing Middle Road, Anyuan Industrial Park, Anyuan District, Pingxiang City, Jiangxi
Tel : +86-18507999558
Email : sales@fxsino.com
WhatsApp :
+86-18507999558
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