Suppose the trays below the feed to the fractionation tower fall off – what are the consequences?

If the trays below the feed to the distillation column fall off, it will have a series of effects on the distillation process. 1. Changes in yield: Tray plates are an important component of distillation columns; their primary function is to increase the contact area, allowing the vapor and liquid phases to come into full contact with each other for heat and mass exchange. If the trays fall off, the distillation efficiency will be severely affected, and the yield will drop significantly. 2. Change in the product distillation range: The detachment of trays causes gas to pass directly through the areas without trays, reducing the effective washing and distillation time; as a result, the product’s distillation range may decrease. 3. Change in product chroma: The detached trays will affect the separation of different components within the tower, and some heavier components may mix into the product, resulting in an increase in its chroma. Therefore, timely maintenance is required to prevent problems caused by the detachment of the trays. .

I have indeed encountered similar situations in real life: insufficient separation, excessive impurities in some products, and abnormal noises inside the tower

1. The content of light components in the reformed fraction at the bottom of the tower increases, and it may even become unqualified. 2. The temperature gradient inside the tower is abnormal, or there is even no temperature gradient in some areas.

It is likely to reduce the yield from the side streams, while increasing the light components in the bottom heavy oil. I would appreciate your feedback on my opinion