Separation Process-II
(ChE-306)
Design of Sieve Plate Column
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McCabe & Smith, Unit Operation of
Chemical Engineering, CH # Distillation
MTO-CHT-301-KSK-MS-JAVED 2
Condenser & Top • Construction of top plate
depends on the condenser.
Plate
• The simplest arrangement to
obtain reflux and liquid product
is single total condenser.
abc= top plate
SINGLE TOTAL CONDENSER
MTO-CHT-301-KSK-MS-JAVED 3
PARTIAL CONDENSER
a'b’c’= additional
theoretical stage
𝒙𝑪 ≠ 𝒙 𝑫
PARTIAL CONDENSER
MTO-CHT-301-KSK-MS-JAVED 4
Bottom plate and
re-boiler
If;
𝐱𝐦 = 𝐱 𝐰
Then ;
𝒚 𝒎+𝟏 =? ? ?
cde= reboiler plate
MTO-CHT-301-KSK-MS-JAVED 5
Invariant Zone
Recall min reflux ratio
• At min. reflux ratio an acute angle is formed.
• It contains an infinite no of plates.
• At this point, there is no change in liquid and vapor concentration.
• The term “Invariant Zone” is used to describe these infinite no of
plates.
• It is also known as “PINCH POINT”.
MTO-CHT-301-KSK-MS-JAVED 6
Design of Sieve Plate Column
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General Characteristics of Distillation Tower
• Tower Dia ( 0.3 to 9)m
• No. of plates (up to hundred)
• Plate Spacing (up to 6 in.)
• Plate type (Bubble Cap/Sieve plate/Valve plates)
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Sieve Tray
• Vapor bubbles up through simple
holes in the tray through flowing
liquid.
• Liquid is maintained on tray by the
kinetic energy of vapors.
• Vapor area is in the range of
(5-15)% of tray area.
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10
Valve Tray
• It is the modification of sieve tray.
• Perforations are covered by liftable caps.
• Vapor flows lifts the caps, thus self creating a flow area for the
passage of vapor.
• It inhibits liquid leakage.
• It can also operate at low vapor rates.
• Cost= 20% Sieve tray
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Bubble Cap Tray
• Vapor rises through opening in the tray
into bubble caps.
• Vapor flows through slots in the
periphery of each cap and bubbles
upward through flowing liquid.
• Cost= 2*(Sieve tray)
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Packings versus Trays
• A tray column that is facing throughput problems may be de-
bottlenecked by replacing a section of trays with packings.
Advantages of packings
• packings provide extra inter-facial area for liquid-vapour contact
• efficiency of separation is increased for the same column height
• packed columns are shorter than trayed columns
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Addressing Factors For Sieve Plate Design
• Number of Plates
• Correction for plate efficiency
• Type of Plate
• Holes in Trays
• Down-comer Size
• Weir Height
• Column Diameter
• Pressure drop per tray
• Vapor rate
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Objective of Liquid
Sieve Plate
Plate
Vapor
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Sieve Plate Operation
Liquid flows across the plate
&
passes over weir to a down-comer
leading to bottom below.
Liquid flows pattern is cross flow on
each plate.
But, overall flow pattern in column is
countercurrent.
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Weir
• A weir on the tray ensures that there is always some liquid
(holdup) on the tray.
• Holdup should be at a suitable height.
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• It is usually a pipe, welded
Downcomer
to the plate.
• It is used to transport fluid in
downward direction.
• It covers (10-15)% of column
X-section area.
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Under flow Weir
• To improve liquid distribution.
• To prevent the entry of bubbles in the down-comer.
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Vapor
•
Flow
Flow of vapor in upward
direction is occurred through
holes.
• Holes are arranged in
triangular pattern
• Hole size ( 5-12) mm.
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Vapor Velocity
• Velocity of upward moving vapors should
be high enough that can create frothy
mixture of liquid and vapors .
• It can provide large surface area for mass
transfer.
• Froth density = 0.2* liquid density
• Froth height should be several times high
than liquid height on plate.
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Vapor Pressure Drop
• is needed;
1. to make flow of vapors through perforated regions
2. to make liquid flow on the plate.
Pressure drop across a single plate is 50-70 mm H2O.
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How to Develop
• Pressure drop is developed automatically by the reboiler during
generation of vapors.
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Orifice Coefficient
• It shows the “fraction of the
open area”.
• It depends on plate thickness.
• Co=
• Mostly Co= 0.66-0.72
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Factors affecting liquid Holdup
Correlation
Factor Francis
Equation 26
Downcomer
•
Level
Level in downcomer must be greater or less than level
on plate?
Liquid
Height of aerated liquid
volume
fraction
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Assignment (Deadline: ___________)
• Example 18.2, 18.3 and 18.6
McCabe & Smith, Unit Operation of Chemical
Engineering, 6th ed., CH # Distillation
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Operational Problem in Distillation
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Flooding
• Flooding Occurs when;
“height of aerated liquid becomes greater than plate spacing”.
Flooding >>> due to excessive vapor flow
What is the consequence of flooding???
Flow to next plate is hindered
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Weeping
• Weeping occurs at >>> Low Vapor Velocities
• ∆ 𝑷 is not enough and liquid flow down through holes.
• Weeping decreases plate efficiency.
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Entrainment
• A phenomenon where small portion of liquor undergoes vaporization
which is carried out by vapors as a droplet in a condenser.
• Results in contamination of
condensate
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Vapor Velocity
Surface tension for
organic liquids
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Self Study
35
Self Study
36
Self Study
37
