Distillation column

deflection
&
Guide support
related issues

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 Wind load and Column deflection

Two type of wind load deflection

1. The static load deflection:
a) Wind loads against the Columns external projected area, which
causes overturning moment and bending moment on column.
b) The deflection of column is in direction of wind in this case.
2. The dynamic deflection :
a) It is created by vortex shedding, as wind passes around Column.
b) Formation and breaking of vortices push to column
c) This makes column to oscillate 90⁰ to wind direction.

In this lecture we shall talk about static load deflection

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Wind induced deflection of tall columns
• A sustain wind pressure will cause a tower to deflect
with the wind.
• The magnitude of deflection may seriously influence
the performance of the Column internals and has to
be limited within certain value.
• Too small deflection if specified, will result in higher
shell thickness. Thus increased equipment cost

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 Static wind load on Column
• The stresses produced in a self-supporting vertical Columns by
wind are calculated by considering column as uniformly
loaded cantilever
• The wind load is a function of the wind velocity, air density
and shape of the tower and is given by the formula:

B = pressure (in. mercury)

Pw = Wind pressure on flat surface (psf)
Vw = Wind velocity (mph)
Fs = Shape factor (1.0 for flat plate at 90ᵒ to the wind, 0.6 for cylindrical
surface projected area)
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 Allowable Column deflection

Maximum allowable deflection at top of column shall be:

a) Column (Height/ 200) for regular applications
(consideration of out of levelness of conventional
valve and sieve trays and tower internals)
b) (H / 300) for special application of trays and internals
when asked by tray designer
c) (H/ 400) for equipments having internal refractory lining
(like refractory lined reactors, stacks etc.)

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 Steps to limit Column deflection
• Column deflection at the top shall be calculated using
design software
• If the deflection of column exceeds the allowable limit,
use following steps:
1) The thickness of column skirt to be increased as first
trial.
2) Skirt thickness shall be min 6mm, and not to exceed
bottom shell course thickness.
3) Increasing skirt thickness shall be stopped if top
deflection is brought within allowable limit with
above steps.

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 How to limit Column deflection
4) Next step shall be to flare the skirt instead parallel
skirt. Skirt angle shall be gradually increased.
Flaring not to exceed 9⁰ (half angle)
5) If above steps gives still inadequate result, the
thickness of column shell courses shall be increased,
in increment of 1.5 or 2M , starting from bottom T.L.
proceeding upward, till deflection within allowable
limits is achieved.
6) If above steps result very high shell thickness which is
uneconomical, guide support shall be provided.

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 Column deflection-
Using guide supports at all levels

Some time for columns placed within structure

CUSTOMER specifically demands :
1. Guide support for column even though column is
strong and rigid.
2. Guide supports at each level of structure.

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 Where to use guide supports

1) Columns need guide support if its wind load static

deflection exceeds the permissible limits.
2) If column is strong and rigid (large diameter and larger
shell thickness) it’s deflection will be mostly lower
than (H/200). Under such conditions guide support is
not required and shall not be provided.

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 Comparing Column deflection Vs
structure deflection
a) For self supporting rigid column having deflection less than
(H/200) guide supports may not be required.
b) The structures are normally designed for a deflection H/360.
However if structure is more flexible than column, it will be
pushing the column. That is undesirable.

What is to be done under such situation:

• Do not provide guide support.
• Provide a cut-out in structure floor around the column such
that column is free to move horizontally as well as expand
vertically without touching the structure.

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Column and structure deflection under
wind load
• Both column and structure
are dynamic they tend to
deflect in case of any
external force ( wind or
seismic)
• This generates a contact
reaction at the support
point, depending on
magnitude of deflections.

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 Column and structure deflection under
wind load
• In case column deflection is kept within H/200 and
structure deflection is kept with in H/360. i.e. structure is
more rigid.
• Hence effectively column will deflect and touch
structure. Which shall generate a reaction.
• This reaction limits column deflection.

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 Why it is not desired to have a guide
support to a rigid column

• Rigid Column will deflect less than H/360, hence

it will be not be supported by structure,
conversely structure will deflect and will try to
push the column.

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Single point supported guide column

• Column is simulated as a
cantilever with a prop support
• Guide support to be treated as
spring support.
• Deflection at 3 different
locations the deflection are δ1,
δ2 and δ3 . It is aimed to get
all deflection values within
permissible limits

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 Iterative process
• Deflection of column and its reaction at support is an
iterative process.
• Initially a horizontal load is assumed such that top of
column deflection is within limits. This load to be given to
structure engineer.
• Structure engineer to calculate deflection of structure and
work out Spring rate “K” of structure.
• As structure is slightly moving reaction force will reduce.
• Revised reaction force shall be calculated and given to
Structure engineer.
• Iterations are needed to converge the final values.

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If multiple location supports are adopted it may
generate multiple mode of deflections

• Guide support at multiple structure levels

are not recommended, as it makes the
δ analytical design next to impossible by
analytical method.
• Such complex case is possible to solve only
by modeling the structure and column
δ coupled together using a software.
• Different mode of deflection will take place
for different load cases (wind / seismic).
• Here we need to decide whether do we
δ really need multiple location supports for
column, when we can manage with single
location guide support.
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Thank you

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