For chemical processors and plant managers, the biggest threat to a new capital project isn't just the cost of raw materials—it’s the engineering hours, integration headaches, and startup risks of building from scratch. Sourcing a column, sizing the exchangers, and integrating the pumps piecemeal is a recipe for budget overruns.
Smart operators are bypassing these CAPEX and engineering hurdles by acquiring complete, proven systems.
On the flip side, facility managers with idle distillation equipment are sitting on stranded capital and sacrificing valuable plant real estate. Phoenix Equipment bridges this gap. We help facilities monetize their obsolete footprint by placing complete, engineered systems directly into the hands of operators who need to scale immediately.
Recently, Phoenix Equipment successfully placed four distillation column systems with buyers who recognized the value of proven capacity. Below is a brief look at each one, followed by an open call for similar assets.
Sale #1: 36" Dia Koch Hastelloy Distillation System
Fabricating new Hastelloy components requires massive capital. This complete, skid-mounted distillation system—designed by Koch Process Technologies—offered the buyer highly corrosion-resistant capacity at a fraction of the cost of new.
- Dimensions & Specs: 40 trays, 79 feet tall on skid, weighing 8,500 lbs.
- Metallurgy: Lower 7'3" section is Hastelloy C276; upper section is 316L Stainless Steel.
- Rating: Built in 1998, MAWP 50 PSI/FV @ 400°F.
- Ancillary Package: Shell and tube heat exchangers (Rubicon), two Tranter SuperChanger plate & frame exchangers, three Kontro GT pumps (Hastelloy), 150-gallon SS reflux tank, and a Dusenbery pressure vessel.
The Takeaway: The comprehensive ancillary package drastically reduced the buyer's engineering scope of supply and integration risk, delivering plug-and-play capability for corrosive process environments.
Sale #2: 1,000 kg/hr Ethanol Distillation System
Built in 2017 by Babcock & Wilcox MEGTEC, this system was completely unused—fabricated and preserved following a project cancellation.
- Capacity: Engineered to process 1,000 kg/hr of 20% food-grade ethanol to 90% concentration (or 500 kg/hr of 45% ethanol).
- Dimensions: Stainless steel column standing 31'10" and weighing 15.5 tons.
- Utility Requirements: Steam: 1,100 lb/hr at 100 PSIG | Chilled water: 349 L/min at 5°C | Air: 20 SCFM at 100 PSIG.
The Takeaway: Unused condition from a reputable OEM, paired with complete documentation, gave a food-grade processor a factory-condition system without the exorbitant greenfield price tag.
Sale #3: 1.5 MM GPY x 2 Ethanol Recovery Plant
This was a complete, two-line ethanol recovery plant designed by Delta-T. Built in 1996 and operational until 2019, it successfully processed waste alcohol streams (out-of-date beer, spilled product, residuals) into 200-proof ethanol.
- Capacity: Each line rated at 1.5 million gallons per year.
- Process Flow: Stripper column (initial concentration) > Rectifier column > Molecular sieve dehydration > Cooling & Storage.
The Takeaway: There is immense value in operational history. With 23 years of proven runtime, the buyer acquired a thoroughly battle-tested process chain, completely bypassing the risk of startup failures while gaining volume flexibility and redundancy.
Sale #4: 28" Dia Hebeler Part-Hastelloy Distillation Column
Manufactured by Hebeler in 1995 and ASME coded, this column was previously used in PCL service.
- Dimensions: 28-inch diameter, 69 feet overall height, 11,000 lbs.
- Metallurgy: Lower section (head and shell) is Hastelloy C276; upper section is 316L Stainless Steel.
- Rating: Internal rated 50 PSI @ 350°F; external rated 15 PSI @ 350°F.
The Takeaway: This column was the perfect fit for a buyer needing a mixed-metallurgy vessel for corrosive service, allowing them to optimize their budget by avoiding the premium of a 100% Hastelloy unit.
We Are Actively Looking for Your Surplus Assets
These four systems found buyers rapidly because they solved complex engineering and budget problems. There are more buyers in the market right now searching for proven, relocatable distillation assets—and we want to represent them.
If your facility has surplus distillation equipment—columns, systems, or integrated plants—taking up valuable real estate, Phoenix Equipment buys and brokers these assets. We move them efficiently, and we know the buyer pool.
Our process is simple:
- Submit Your Specs: Send us your equipment lists, P&IDs, or photos.
- We Evaluate: Our engineering team will review the assets and provide a fair market valuation.
- You Get Paid: We purchase the assets, handle the logistics, and clear your facility space for your next expansion.
We are actively buying:
- Distillation columns (any diameter, any metallurgy)
- Complete distillation systems with ancillary equipment
- Ethanol recovery and dehydration plants
- Specialty alloy columns (Hastelloy, Inconel, Titanium)
- Tray and packed columns
Turn your idle equipment into working capital today. Contact Phoenix Equipment:
Phone: 732-442-6990
Email: sales@phxequip.com
Website: www.phxequip.com