(146b) Trays for Distillation and Absorption

Trays for Distillation and Absorption

  T.J. Cai^*,  M.R. Resetarits, A.Y. Ogundeji

Fractionation Research, Inc.

424 S. Squires St.

Stillwater, OK 74074

  <align="center">ABSTRACT

Distillation columns are essential to the chemical processing industries. They need to be properly designed and operated. Column internals, such as tray and packings, are essential to column performance. If column internals malfunction, the entire plant may suffer.  Among column internals, trayed columns are widely used in distillation and absorption applications.  This presentation will discuss the ranges of the liquid and vapor loads that a trayed column can handle.  It will review the systems where trayed columns are particularly applicable.  A brief history of trays and trayed columns will be presented.  New generations of high performance trays, including augmented crossflow, counter current flow and concurrent flow trays, will be discussed.  The performance differences between trays and packings will be summarized.  Column designs that provide high energy efficiencies will be briefly discussed.  Extensive video footage of tray operations will be shown, from commercial size columns with various distillation systems ranging from deep vacuum to high pressure. 

Key Words:  Distillation, trays, trayed column,

*Corresponding author. E-mail: cai@fri.org , Phone: 1-405-385-0354, Fax: 1-405-385-0357