What is an inert ceramic support medium ball?

Inert ceramic support medium balls are spherical support bodies made mainly of ceramics and having chemical inertness. They are commonly used in reaction towers, adsorption towers, catalyst beds and other devices in fields such as chemical engineering, environmental protection, and energy. Their main functions include supporting catalysts, regulating fluid distribution, reducing resistance in gas or liquid flow, protecting the internal structure of equipment, and preventing the loss of catalyst particles. They do not participate in chemical reactions themselves and can maintain stable physical and chemical properties under complex working conditions such as high temperatures and corrosive environments.

Name Explanation of “Supporting Medium Inert Ceramic Balls”

Supporting medium: In reactors in industries such as petroleum, chemical engineering, fertilizer production, natural gas, and environmental protection, it is mainly used to support and protect low-strength active catalysts. At the same time, it can also increase gas or liquid distribution points, ensuring uniform distribution of gas or liquid within the reactor and providing favorable mass transfer conditions for the reaction. Due to its role in supporting and improving the distribution of the medium in these processes, it is called “supporting medium”.

Inert: These ceramic balls have relatively stable chemical properties and are not prone to chemical reactions with other substances. In various complex chemical production environments, they can withstand corrosion from acids, alkalis, and other organic solvents, as well as temperature changes during production, and will not affect their own performance and the reaction process due to chemical reactions. Therefore, they are endowed with the characteristic description of “inert”.

Ceramic balls: From the perspective of material and appearance, they are spherical bodies made of ceramic materials. Ceramics have the advantages of high strength, high hardness, and high temperature resistance, enabling ceramic balls to work stably and long-term in harsh industrial environments.

To sum up: The name “Supporting Medium Inert Ceramic Balls” accurately reflects the key features of these ceramic balls in industrial applications, including their functions, chemical properties, material composition and shape.

Main applications

Petrochemical industry: In catalytic cracking units, it serves as a support material for catalysts, bearing the catalyst bed and ensuring uniform passage of oil and gas through the catalyst, thereby efficiently cracking large-molecule hydrocarbons in crude oil into small-molecule products. It also buffers the impact of liquid and gas entering the reactor on the catalyst, protecting the catalyst and improving the distribution of liquid and gas within the reactor.

Environmental ceramic field: In industrial wastewater treatment plants, when treating wastewater containing heavy metal ions and organic pollutants, it utilizes its porous structure and surface properties to adsorb and retain harmful substances. In the flue gas desulfurization system, it participates in chemical reactions and assists in the capture of sulfur dioxide in flue gas by the absorbent.

Natural gas industry: In natural gas purification units, it protects catalysts for desulfurization and decarbonization, preventing catalyst pulverization caused by gas flow impact and ensuring the effective removal of impurities in natural gas. In storage stages, inert ceramic balls are laid at the bottom of storage tanks to prevent water accumulation at the bottom of storage equipment and erosion of the tank body by impurities, thereby optimizing the gas distribution within the tanks.

Other fields: It can be used as packing in tower reactors, adsorption towers, filters and other equipment to improve fluid distribution, increase the contact area between gas and liquid, and enhance reaction efficiency and separation effect. It can also be used as grinding media in industries such as mineral processing, coatings, and inks, as well as as insulation materials for high-temperature equipment or pipelines.

Classification

Ordinary ceramic  balls: Generally, the aluminum content is relatively low, they have certain strength and chemical stability, and can meet some conventional industrial application requirements. Their prices are relatively low.

Medium aluminum ceramic  balls: The aluminum content is between that of ordinary ceramic balls and high-aluminum ceramic balls. They perform relatively well in terms of strength, chemical stability, and thermal stability, and are suitable for various different industrial scenarios.

High-aluminum ceramic  balls: The aluminum content is high, they have higher strength, hardness, and chemical stability, and can be used in more demanding conditions, such as high temperature, high pressure, and strong corrosion environments.

Selection Considerations

Consideration of Operating Environment: Select the appropriate inert ceramic balls based on specific factors such as temperature, pressure, chemical substance properties, and reactor requirements.

Attention to Specifications and Sizes: Choose inert ceramic balls with the appropriate diameter specifications according to the size of the equipment, internal structure, and flow rate of the fluid, to ensure they can perform optimally within the equipment.

Clarification of Quality Standards: Select inert ceramic balls that comply with relevant industry standards and quality requirements. Review the product’s test reports and quality certifications to ensure their performance indicators meet the usage needs.