• Valve plates Valve trays (or floating cap plate) are the

modified design of sieve trays where relatively large

plate perforations are covered by movable
caps/valves (Figure 7.6). Valves cover may be round
or rectangular. The very common hole diameter is 40
mm but upto 150 mm are also used. The valve lifts up
as the vapor flow rate increases and the valve sits
over the perforation at lower flow rate, thus stops the
liquid from weeping. Valve trays provide good vapor-
liquid contact at low flow rates (high turndown ratio)