What Is Plastic Heilex Ring Packing? Structure, Applications and Selection Boundaries

Plastic Heilex Ring packing is a highly open random packing designed to combine large gas-flow passages, repeated liquid redistribution and relatively low packed-bed resistance. It is mainly considered for scrubbers, absorbers and stripping towers where hydraulic capacity, corrosion resistance, low packing weight and tolerance for moderate fouling are important.

Its engineering value should not be reduced to:

“another type of plastic ring.”

The important question is:

When does Heilex-type geometry provide a useful hydraulic or operating advantage over Pall Rings, Teller Rosettes, Tri-Pack-type packing or other plastic random packing?

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1. What Is Heilex Ring Packing?

Heilex Ring belongs to the plastic random packing family.

Individual elements are dumped randomly into the tower rather than installed in ordered layers.

The geometry uses a highly open three-dimensional structure intended to create:

• large interconnected void spaces;
• multiple liquid-contact surfaces;
• open gas-flow passages;
• repeated liquid redistribution.

Its geometry is substantially more open than a simple cylindrical Raschig Ring.

DAIER's engineering database includes PP Heilex Ring products in 25, 38, 50 and 76 mm nominal sizes, confirming that it is a multi-size random-packing family rather than one fixed element.

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2. What Is the Main Engineering Purpose?

Heilex-type packing is designed around a familiar random-packing trade-off:

Mass Transfer

versus

Hydraulic Openness

A tower needs enough surface for liquid wetting and gas-liquid interaction.

But too much restrictive packing structure can:

• increase pressure drop;
• reduce gas capacity;
• increase liquid holdup;
• worsen plugging.

Heilex Ring places relatively strong emphasis on maintaining open gas and liquid pathways while still providing useful contacting surfaces.

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3. Why Is Open Geometry Important?

In counter-current packed towers:

• gas moves upward;
• liquid moves downward.

Both phases compete for space inside the packing bed.

Large interconnected voids can help provide:

• gas throughput;
• liquid drainage;
• hydraulic operating margin.

This makes open plastic packing particularly relevant to towers handling large gas volumes.

However:

High openness does not mean unlimited capacity or zero pressure drop.

Actual tower performance still depends on operating conditions.

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4. Plastic Construction

Heilex Ring is commonly associated with molded polymer construction.

Plastic provides several potential advantages:

• low bed weight;
• corrosion resistance in compatible chemistry;
• easy handling;
• ability to mold complex open geometry.

PP is one material represented in DAIER's engineering data.

But polymer selection must still consider:

• chemical species;
• concentration;
• temperature;
• oxidizers;
• solvents.

Plastic does not mean universal chemical resistance.

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5. Why Low Bed Weight Can Matter

Plastic random packing can provide much lower dry bed weight than many ceramic packing systems.

This can be attractive for:

• FRP scrubbers;
• plastic towers;
• lightweight equipment;
• retrofit projects with support-load concerns.

Lower weight can also simplify:

• transportation;
• installation;
• removal.

The support system must nevertheless be designed for the operating bed, including:

• liquid holdup;
• deposits;
• dynamic loads.

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6. Scrubber Applications

Heilex Ring can be particularly relevant to gas scrubbers.

A scrubber may require:

• high gas throughput;
• continuous liquid irrigation;
• corrosion resistance;
• manageable pressure drop;
• tolerance for deposits.

An open plastic packing can therefore be a practical candidate for suitable:

• chemical exhaust scrubbers;
• acid-gas treatment;
• industrial air-pollution control;
• odor-control systems.

Final suitability depends on actual process chemistry and operating load.

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7. Absorption Applications

Plastic Heilex Ring can also be considered in absorbers.

Its open structure may be attractive where:

• gas capacity is significant;
• pressure drop matters;
• polymer compatibility is favorable.

The process still needs sufficient contacting area to achieve the required absorption.

Therefore, selection must balance:

Hydraulic Capacity ↔ Mass-Transfer Requirement

If the process requires very high efficiency within limited packed height, another packing may deserve stronger consideration.

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8. Stripping Applications

Stripping towers require simultaneous:

• upward gas or steam passage;
• downward liquid drainage;
• mass transfer.

An open random packing can support this operation where:

• pressure drop should remain moderate;
• corrosion resistance is needed;
• temperature remains within polymer capability.

High-temperature stripping may move the project toward:

• metal;
• ceramic

packing instead.

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9. Fouling Tolerance

Heilex-type geometry can be attractive where moderate fouling is expected.

Large passages may provide greater operating tolerance than very fine packing.

This can be helpful when the process contains:

• suspended contamination;
• biological material;
• moderate solids;
• deposits.

But:

Heilex Ring is not non-clogging packing.

Severe fouling can still bridge between adjacent elements and reduce open area.

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10. Crystallization and Scaling

Processes that form:

• salts;
• crystals;
• scale

require additional review.

Open geometry can help delay blockage.

But continuous heavy deposition can still increase:

• pressure drop;
• liquid maldistribution;
• maintenance frequency.

Packing selection should therefore consider the fouling mechanism itself, not just whether the packing appears physically open.

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11. Packing Size Matters

Heilex Ring is available in multiple nominal sizes.

The normal size trade-off applies.

Smaller Heilex Ring

May provide:

• more elements per cubic meter;
• greater contacting frequency;
• potentially more surface-area density.

But may also create:

• greater hydraulic resistance;
• greater fouling sensitivity.

Larger Heilex Ring

May provide:

• larger passages;
• stronger hydraulic capacity;
• better tolerance for some deposits.

But generally provides less contacting area per packed volume.

The smallest size should not automatically be chosen for efficiency.

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12. Tower Diameter Must Be Considered

Packing element size should remain reasonable relative to tower diameter.

If the elements are too large:

• wall effects can increase;
• the random bed can become less uniform.

If elements are unnecessarily small:

• pressure drop may increase;
• fouling tolerance may decrease.

Therefore, the RFQ should include:

• tower internal diameter;
• packed height;
• process conditions.

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13. Heilex Ring vs Plastic Pall Ring

These products represent different geometry priorities.

Plastic Pall Ring

Provides:

• established ring geometry;
• wall openings;
• internal contacting surfaces;
• extensive industrial use.

Heilex Ring

Places stronger emphasis on:

• highly open three-dimensional flow passages;
• hydraulic capacity;
• liquid drainage.

Heilex Ring may deserve stronger consideration where:

• pressure drop;
• high gas throughput;
• fouling tolerance

are important.

Pall Ring may remain preferable when:

• established process experience;
• broad availability;
• compact mass-transfer performance

carry more weight.

Neither is universally superior.

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14. Heilex Ring vs Tri-Pack-Type Packing

Both are open plastic random packing families.

Both can be evaluated for:

• scrubbers;
• absorbers;
• high gas flow;
• moderate fouling.

But their geometries are different.

A real comparison should consider:

• nominal size;
• specific surface area;
• void fraction;
• bulk density;
• actual process requirement.

The correct question is not which shape looks more open.

It is:

Which packing gives enough mass transfer while maintaining the required hydraulic margin?

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15. Heilex Ring vs Teller Rosette

Teller Rosette uses a skeletal loop or rosette structure.

Heilex Ring uses a different open formed geometry.

Both may be attractive where:

• low packing weight;
• corrosion resistance;
• open flow

are important.

Teller Rosette may provide a different balance of:

• surface area;
• bed structure;
• fouling behavior.

They should not be treated as interchangeable simply because both are open plastic scrubber packings.

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16. Heilex Ring vs Snowflake Ring

Both emphasize relatively open flow passages.

Snowflake Ring uses a radial snowflake-like structure.

Heilex Ring uses a different open ring architecture.

If both meet material requirements, engineers should compare:

• hydraulic capacity;
• surface area;
• packing size;
• fouling risk;
• tower diameter.

The application should determine the candidate—not the product name.

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17. When Heilex Ring Is a Strong Candidate

Plastic Heilex Ring deserves stronger consideration where several conditions occur together:

• high gas throughput;
• corrosion-compatible plastic service;
• low packed-bed weight is desirable;
• pressure-drop control matters;
• moderate fouling exists;
• the tower is a scrubber or absorber;
• open random packing is preferred.

Its strongest position is generally hydraulically demanding gas-treatment service rather than extremely high-efficiency separation.

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18. When It May Not Be the Best Choice

Heilex Ring should receive lower priority when:

• maximum separation efficiency per unit packed height is critical;
• temperature exceeds polymer capability;
• chemistry attacks the selected polymer;
• severe deposits can plug even large openings;
• a conventional Pall Ring already performs adequately;
• structured packing provides a stronger solution for clean demanding separation.

A more open packing should only be selected when that openness solves a real operating constraint.

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19. Retrofit Applications

An existing tower may consider replacing older packing with Heilex Ring because of:

• excessive pressure drop;
• fouling;
• inadequate gas capacity;
• high existing packing weight.

Before conversion, review:

• existing packing type and size;
• tower ID;
• packed height;
• liquid distributor;
• packing support;
• hold-down arrangement;
• process performance.

Equal packing volume does not guarantee equal mass transfer.

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20. Support and Hold-Down Requirements

The packing support must:

• retain the selected element size;
• carry the wet bed load;
• maintain sufficient open flow area.

Plastic packing is relatively lightweight, so upward movement can also become relevant in some operating conditions.

Where a hold-down arrangement is required, its purpose is to:

restrain unwanted bed movement

not to:

compress the packed bed.

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Preliminary Selection Guide

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Common Selection Mistakes

Choosing Heilex Ring Only Because It Is Open

The bed still needs sufficient mass-transfer performance.

Assuming Plastic Is Universally Corrosion-Resistant

Chemical compatibility depends on composition, concentration and temperature.

Selecting the Largest Size for Fouling

Excessively large packing can reduce surface-area density and create tower-diameter problems.

Selecting the Smallest Size for Efficiency

Smaller elements can increase hydraulic resistance and plugging sensitivity.

Assuming Open Packing Cannot Foul

Severe deposits can obstruct any conventional random packing.

Replacing Existing Packing by Equal Volume

A geometry change can alter both hydraulic and mass-transfer behavior.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Heilex Ring packing?

Heilex Ring is an open plastic random packing designed to provide high hydraulic capacity while maintaining useful gas-liquid contacting surfaces.

Is Heilex Ring random packing?

Yes. Individual packing elements are randomly loaded into the tower.

What sizes are available?

DAIER engineering data contains PP Heilex Ring in 25, 38, 50 and 76 mm nominal sizes.

What is Heilex Ring used for?

It may be considered for scrubbers, absorbers, stripping towers and other gas-treatment systems where open flow and corrosion-resistant plastic construction are valuable.

Is Heilex Ring better than Pall Ring?

Not universally. Heilex Ring may deserve stronger consideration for hydraulic openness and fouling tolerance, while Pall Ring may offer other advantages in surface utilization, familiarity and procurement.

Is Heilex Ring suitable for fouling service?

Its open geometry can provide useful tolerance for moderate fouling, but severe solids, scale, crystallization or sticky deposits can still obstruct the bed.

Is Heilex Ring suitable for FRP scrubbers?

It can be a strong candidate because of its relatively low weight and plastic construction, provided the polymer is compatible with the chemistry and temperature.

Can Heilex Ring replace Plastic Pall Rings?

Potentially, especially where pressure drop, fouling or capacity is driving the retrofit. Bed height, mass transfer, support and distribution should still be reviewed.

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Selection Takeaway

Plastic Heilex Ring is an open random packing whose strongest engineering value is the combination of hydraulic capacity, low bed weight, corrosion-resistant polymer construction and tolerance for moderately fouling service.

Its strongest position is generally:

High Gas Capacity + Open Flow + Low Weight + Moderate Fouling Tolerance + Compatible Plastic Service

It is particularly worth evaluating for:

• gas scrubbers;
• absorbers;
• FRP towers;
• air-pollution-control systems;
• hydraulic retrofit projects.

The correct selection sequence is:

Process Duty → Gas/Liquid Load → Fouling → Required Mass Transfer → Polymer Compatibility → Temperature → Packing Size → Tower Diameter

The key principle is:

Choose Heilex Ring when its open geometry solves a real hydraulic or fouling requirement—not simply because it is another high-performance plastic packing.