Distillation Columns
High-efficiency fractional distillation and separation of liquid mixtures based on differences in volatility — built to ASME Sec VIII with our U-Stamp.
R&D Therm is a leading global manufacturer and supplier of distillation columns in India, engineered to deliver high-efficiency fractional distillation and separation of liquid mixtures based on differences in volatilities.
Certified with the ASME U-Stamp and built to meet international quality standards, our columns are designed for superior performance in both batch and continuous distillation systems — from vacuum columns to modular distillation units.
What is a Distillation Column?
A distillation column is a critical piece of equipment used in the distillation process to separate liquid mixtures into their individual components. By leveraging differences in the volatilities of the mixture's constituents, distillation columns enable precise fractionation — making them indispensable across petroleum refineries, chemical processing plants, bioethanol production and pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Distillation is the most common unit operation in chemical and refining plants, and the column itself is where the entire economics of a process line live or die. A poorly engineered column costs money on day one — and every day after that, in lost yield, extra steam and unscheduled shutdowns.
How we design a column
Every distillation column we build starts with a process datasheet from the licensor or the client's process team. From there our engineers run hydraulic and mass-transfer calculations in PV-Elite and Aspen, validate the mechanical design against ASME Section VIII Div 1, and produce shop drawings the floor can build directly.
We model every internal — trays, downcomers, packing supports, distributors — so the customer sees exactly what they're buying before a single plate is rolled.
Trays vs packed columns
Both have their place. Trayed columns give you flexibility on turndown and are easier to clean. Packed columns give lower pressure drop and better separation when you have heat-sensitive products. We build both, and we will tell you honestly which one fits your service — including the cases where a hybrid is the right answer.
Materials we run regularly
- Stainless steel grades 304L, 316L, 321 and 904L
- Duplex and super-duplex (2205, 2507) for chloride service
- Titanium Gr 2 / Gr 7 for highly corrosive feeds
- Hastelloy C276 and C22 for acid duties
- Carbon steel with internal cladding for cost-sensitive jobs
Why customers come back
Our repeat business comes from one thing: the column shows up on time, with a complete code dossier, and starts up first time. We have shipped distillation columns up to 4.5 m in diameter and 33 m long — in a single piece, fully internally fitted, with hydrotest and radiography reports signed off by a third-party inspector before the truck leaves the shop.
"R&D Therm delivered our 32 m vacuum column three weeks early and the commissioning team had zero punch-list items. That does not happen often." — Plant Manager, specialty chemicals EPC.
What you receive on despatch
Every column ships with the full QA dossier — mill test certificates, weld maps, radiography films, hydro reports, dimensional inspection records, and the U-Stamp data report. Everything traceable, every weld accounted for.
Sized for your toughest jobs.
Shell Diameter
4,500 mm
Shell Thickness
28 mm
Overall Length
33,000 mm
Max Weight
42 MT
Engineering services included.
- 01Detailed mechanical design with FEA review.
- 02Mill-to-shop material traceability.
- 03Third-party inspection and code stamping.
- 04QA dossier and as-built drawings on despatch.
Why teams choose us.
- High separation efficiency across feed compositions
- Robust construction for continuous duty
- Customisable trays, packing and internals
- Full compliance with ASME Section VIII
Constructed to code
Compliance & standards.
Every vessel, exchanger and skid we ship is engineered, fabricated and inspected to internationally recognised pressure-equipment codes.
Questions buyers ask first.
What sizes can R&D Therm fabricate?
We can fabricate equipment up to 4.5 m in shell diameter, 33 m in overall length and 42 MT single-piece weight. In 2024 we dispatched a 48.5 MT distillation column measuring 4.5 m × 23 m.
Which codes and certifications do you build to?
We are ASME U-Stamp certified for pressure vessels (Section VIII Div 1 & 2), IBR-approved for boilers and steam pressure parts, and routinely build to PED (CE marked) for European exports. Tanks follow API 650 / IS 2062 as applicable.
Do you handle exotic-alloy fabrication?
Yes — titanium, Hastelloy C-22 / C-276, duplex and super-duplex stainless steels, Sanicro 28 and 904L are routine work for our welding division. We have qualified welders and procedures for each material.
What is your typical delivery timeline?
Standard pressure vessels and heat exchangers typically ship in 12 – 16 weeks. Larger columns, reactors and complete process skids ship in 16 – 22 weeks depending on scope and material. Every quote includes a milestone-based delivery schedule.
Do you provide third-party inspection support?
Yes — we work routinely with Lloyd's Register, BV, TUV, DNV, SGS and customer-nominated inspection agencies. Hold points, witness inspections and full documentation packs are part of every job.
Do you supply equipment with standard accessories and instrumentation?
Yes — pressure gauges, safety valves, drain valves, manholes, ladders, platforms and instrumentation nozzles are supplied as standard. Auto-drains, PLC / DCS-ready packages and platforms are available as options.
Can you offer site erection and commissioning support?
We routinely send engineers to site for erection supervision, hydro / loop checking and commissioning support. Full piping and erection is also part of our scope on turnkey skid jobs.
Build with R&D Therm