Trays and Packing
Stripping Service
For stripping service, as in a glycol or amine contactor , bubble cap trays are the most common. In recent years, there has been a growing movement toward crimped sheet structured packing. Improved vapor and liquid distributor design in conjunction with structured packing can lead to smaller-diameter and shorter stripping towers than can be obtained [...]
17Sep2009 | admin | Comments Off | ContinuedDistillation Service
For distillation services, as in condensate stabilization, tray design is well understood, and many engineers are more comfortable with trays than with packing. In the past, bubble cap trays were the standard. However, they are not commonly used in this service anymore. Sieve trays are inexpensive but offer a very narrow operating range when compared [...]
17Sep2009 | admin | Comments Off | ContinuedStructured Packing
A bed of structured packing consists of a bed support upon which elements of structured packing are placed. Beds of structured packing typically have lower pressure drops than beds of random packing of comparable mass transfer efficiency. Structured packing elements are composed of grids (metal or plastic) or woven mesh (metal or plastic) or of [...]
17Sep2009 | admin | Comments Off | ContinuedRandom Packing
A bed of random packing typically consists of a bed support (typically a gas injection support plate) upon which pieces of packing material are randomly arranged (they are usually poured or dumped onto this support plate). Bed limiters, or hold-downs, are sometimes set above random beds to prevent the pieces of packing from migrating or [...]
17Sep2009 | admin | Comments Off | ContinuedTray Efficiency and Tower Height
In condensate stabilizers, trays generally have 70% equilibrium stage efficiency. That is, 1.4 actual trays are required to provide one theoretical stage. The spacing between trays is a function of the spray height and the downcomer backup (the height of clear liquid established in the downcorner). The tray spacing will typically range from 20 to [...]
17Sep2009 | admin | Comments Off | ContinuedBubble Cap Trays vs. Valve Trays
At low vapor rates, valve trays will weep. Bubble cap trays cannot weep (unless they are damaged). For this reason, it is generally assumed that bubble cap trays have nearly an infinite turndown ratio. This is true in absorption processes (e.g., glycol dehydration), in which it is more important to contact the vapor with liquid [...]
17Sep2009 | admin | Comments Off | ContinuedHigh Capacity/High Efficiency Trays
High capacity/high efficiency trays have valves or sieve holes or both. They typically achieve higher efficiencies and capacities by taking advantage of the active area under the downcomer. At this time, each of the major vendors has its own version of these trays, and the designs are proprietary.
17Sep2009 | admin | Comments Off | Continued