Structured packing has been widely used in distillation processes. An economic feasibility analysis of a new structured packing
the structured corrugation SiC-foam packing (SCFP-SiC)
was compared to traditional structured corrugation metal packing (SCMP) in the whole life cycle from raw materials
production to end use by life cycle cost (LCC) theory. Results showed that the production cost of SCFP-SiC was higher than that of SCMP but was less affected by price fluctuation of raw materials. In end use
SCFP-SiC could have overall cost saving advantages by whether decreasing the tower height to reduce the fixed cost or decreasing the reflux ratio to reduce the variable cost. Assuming that SCFP-SiC could increase 1.5 times more theoretical plate number
the total cost would be lower for SCFP-SiC than SCMP in only 6.8 months' separation operation of xylene mixture. Considered its remarkable corrosion resistance
SCFP-SiC could significantly benefit end users from economic viewpoint as a SCMP replacement in separation processes.