STAGED COLUMN DESIGN

K. M. Tanvir Ahmmed
Lecturer, ChE, BUET
 TYPES OF TRAY

• Bubble cap tray : old

• Sieve tray : simple
• Valve tray : modern usage
BUBBLE CAP TRAY
 BUBBLE CAP TRAY
• Advantages • Disadvantages
– flexible : operates – high entrainment:
satisfactorily at requires higher tray
very high and low spacing
liquid flow rates – significant liquid
gradient
– problems with
coking, high fouling
mixtures
– expensive
– Poor turndown
performance
BUBBLE CAP TRAY (CONT’D)
SIEVE TRAY
 SIEVE TRAY (CONT’D)
• Advantages • Disadvantages
– easy to manufacture – turndown is poor
– inexpensive (efficiency falls
– considerable design below the design
information is available condition)
– efficiency is good at
– not flexible
design condition
– very good in fouling
applications
VALVE TRAY
 VALVE TRAY (CONT’D)
• Advantages • Disadvantages
– better turndown – Higher pressure
ratio drop than sieve tray
– more flexible – 20% more
– new industrial expensive than
columns are more sieve tray
likely to have valve – more likely to foul or
trays plug in case of dirty
mixtures
VALVE TRAY (ONE-PIECE
VALVE)
VALVE TRAY
VALVE TRAY
VALVE TRAY (CAGED VALVE)
VALVE TRAY (CAGED VALVE)
VALVE TRAY (FIXED VALVE)
VALVE TRAY