316L Stainless Steel Desulfurization Tower

Product Overview

The 316L stainless steel desulfurization tower is a wet flue gas desulfurization vessel used to remove sulfur dioxide, acid mist and other acidic pollutants from industrial exhaust gas. It is also called a 316L stainless steel desulfurizer, SO₂ scrubber, flue gas desulfurization tower, FGD tower or wet desulfurization tower.

Flue gas enters the tower from the bottom or side and flows upward through the spray and packing section. Absorption liquid such as NaOH solution, lime slurry or other alkaline reagent is sprayed from the top, forming a liquid film on the packing surface. Sulfur dioxide and acidic components are absorbed and neutralized through gas-liquid contact, and the purified gas passes through a demister before discharge.

The tower body is made of 316L stainless steel, which provides better resistance to chloride ions, wet corrosion and acid condensate than 304 stainless steel. This makes it suitable for flue gas conditions where humidity, chloride content or long-term corrosive operation are relatively high.

Why 316L Stainless Steel Desulfurization Tower

316L stainless steel desulfurization towers are suitable for industrial flue gas desulfurization where wet corrosion, acid mist carryover or chloride ions are present. Compared with 304 stainless steel, 316L contains molybdenum and provides improved resistance to pitting corrosion, crevice corrosion and chloride-induced attack.

The low carbon content of 316L also helps reduce carbide precipitation during welding, which supports better corrosion performance in welded structures such as tower shells, spray sections, circulation pipelines and demister supports. The smooth inner surface of stainless steel helps reduce scaling, improves liquid distribution and supports stable SO₂ absorption efficiency.

Structure & Working Principle

The desulfurization tower is a vertical cylindrical vessel made of 316L stainless steel, with gas inlet, gas outlet, inspection door, drain connection and supporting structure. Flue gas flows through the tower while absorption liquid is circulated by a pump and sprayed through nozzles.

Inside the tower, the packing layer increases gas-liquid contact area and improves absorption efficiency for SO₂ and acidic gases. The demister section removes entrained droplets from purified gas to reduce carryover and downstream corrosion. The circulation tank collects absorption liquid for reuse, with optional pH monitoring and dosing system to maintain stable neutralization performance.

Material Selection Guidance

316L stainless steel is recommended when the desulfurization tower handles flue gas with higher humidity, chloride ions, acid mist carryover or long-term wet corrosion. It provides better reliability than 304 in conditions where pitting or crevice corrosion may occur.

For mildly corrosive and low-chloride flue gas, 304 stainless steel may still be a cost-effective option. For severe chloride corrosion, high salt accumulation or long service life requirements, 2205 duplex stainless steel can be considered. Material selection should be based on SO₂ concentration, flue gas temperature, humidity, chloride concentration and expected service life.

Typical Specifications

The tower is manufactured from 316L stainless steel, with vertical desulfurization tower or FGD tower configuration. Diameter is typically customized between 800 mm and 4000 mm, and height is determined according to packing height, spray stages and site conditions. Wall thickness is generally designed between 2 mm and 4 mm depending on diameter, structural load and process requirements.

Internal parts include packing, spray nozzles, demister, circulation pump, piping and supporting structures. Exact dimensions, number of spray layers, packing type and connection configuration should be determined according to flue gas volume, SO₂ concentration, temperature, humidity and installation conditions.

Typical Applications

316L stainless steel desulfurization towers are widely used in boiler flue gas desulfurization, kiln and furnace exhaust gas treatment, chemical plant SO₂ absorption, metallurgical and sintering flue gas purification, power plant and industrial heating system desulfurization, as well as acid gas removal in pharmaceutical, food and manufacturing plants. They can also be arranged upstream of WESP systems, activated carbon adsorbers or RTO units to reduce SO₂, acid mist, dust and moisture load before downstream polishing.

Manufacturing & Company Strength

Wuxi Xinchangyuan Equipment Manufacturing Co., Ltd. specializes in the design and manufacture of stainless steel desulfurization towers, absorption towers, spray towers, wet scrubbers, wet electrostatic precipitators, anode modules and anode tube bundles. Our facility is equipped with plate rolling, laser cutting, CNC forming, automatic welding, surface treatment and module assembly capabilities, supporting both standard and customized stainless steel process equipment for industrial flue gas treatment.

We provide engineering support from material selection and structural design to fabrication, assembly and installation guidance. Each desulfurization tower is manufactured according to project flue gas composition, SO₂ load, temperature, corrosion level and site layout. Our team can integrate desulfurization towers with wet electrostatic precipitators, demisters, circulation systems and exhaust gas purification lines, helping industrial customers achieve stable emission performance and reliable long-term operation.

FAQ

What is a 316L stainless steel desulfurization tower used for?
It is used to remove sulfur dioxide, acid mist and other acidic pollutants from industrial flue gas through wet scrubbing and chemical absorption.

Why choose 316L instead of 304 for desulfurization towers?
316L contains molybdenum and provides better resistance to chloride ions, acid mist and wet corrosive environments. It is more suitable for high-humidity, chloride-containing or long-term wet desulfurization conditions.

Can the desulfurization tower be customized?
Yes. Tower diameter, height, wall thickness, packing type, spray layers, demister and circulation system can be customized according to actual process conditions.

Can it be used together with a WESP system?
Yes. A desulfurization tower can be arranged upstream of a WESP to reduce SO₂, acid mist, dust and moisture load, helping the downstream polishing system operate more stably.

Tel：+86 13656199922

Phone：+86 13656199922

Email：wxxcysbzzyxgs@163.com

Address：35-3 Yanqiao Road, Yanqiao Street, Huishan District, Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, China