STUDIES ON VALVE-TRAY DISTILLATION COLUMN DESIGN

Abstract

The spplioation of valve tray distillation columns in the chemical industries and petroleum refineries has increased considerably in the past years. The literature on the such column are not available at one place, unlike well established methods available for the design of sieve-type and bubble cap distillation columns. In the present study an attempt has been done to compile the available literature and develop a computer programme which can be used for the design of valve tray distillation column, if feed conditions are known. The study also includes the effect of system and operating variables on the performance of such columns. Further a practicing engineers can know from this study, the conditions under which the column becomes inoperable and the limits within which the column performance would be satisfactory.