What is the term used for the gap between the liquid drop tray in a distillation column and the liquid receiver?
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What is the term used for the gap between the liquid dropping plates in a distillation column and the liquid receiving tank (the bottom gap)? In our plant’s C3 column, there are some instances where the gap between the liquid dropping plates and the liquid receiving tank is not within the specified range. I wonder if this has any impact; please share your thoughts on this matter
I’m very curious too. Could a professional explain it?
The causes of the deviation are the deviation of the liquid drop plate and the horizontal deviation of the tray plates. If it is merely a deviation in the liquid dropping plate, and if that deviation is negative, then it only results in an increase in the height of the foam layer in the liquid dropping tube; in extreme cases, this could lead to flooding of the liquid dropping tube (for example, if the bottom gap changes from 50 mm to 20 mm, and the designed liquid dropping tube is relatively small). There is no extra design margin). If there is a positive deviation (50mm to 70mm), it may result in an insufficient exit velocity at the downcomer outlet, preventing a liquid seal and allowing gas to pass through the downcomer. In addition to the situations mentioned above, if there is a horizontal deviation in the trays, it may also cause uneven liquid layer heights on those trays, disrupting the original pressure balance within them. As a result, gas can pass through in large quantities in the areas with thin liquid layers, thereby reducing the efficiency of the trays.