Introductory Remarks

Blanking is a common practice used to modify tray decks to obtain satisfactory operation at vapor rates lower than those possible using the normal or full perforated area of the tray. Blanked trays may be found in new towers designed for anticipated future capacity expansions or in revamped towers, especially when their new or current operational conditions are very different than those used for the original design or when the columns are repurposed for different services.

Throughout the years, FRI’s legendary expert Tak Yanagi conducted a series of studies aimed to determine the effect of using blanking strips on the hydraulic performance and efficiency of sieve trays. During such studies, changes in design and operational parameters have been analyzed: orientation and location of the blanking strips, hole size, hole area, operational pressure and test system. This presentation will provide an interpretation of Mr. Yanagi’s findings about the effects of using blanking strips in sieve trays.