Abnormal phenomena resulting from clogged or obstructed sieve holes on the sieve plates of plate towers
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In a plate tower, the trays used are sieve trays. If the sieve holes in these trays become blocked or clogged, will it become more difficult for the gas phase to rise from the bottom of the tower through those sieve holes to the top? This can create a certain upward force on the liquid phase flowing downward in the downcomer, which may slow down the speed at which the liquid phase returns to the top of the tower. As a result, it might become harder to establish a stable liquid level at the bottom of the tower Question!
In severe cases, the tower circulation will be interrupted, and the vapor phase carrying liquid will exit from the top of the tower
The first thing you would notice is probably an increase in the total pressure drop across the tower, right?