Predicting valve tray efficiency

Existing literature models for predicting the mass transfer efficiencies of binary hydrocarbon, distillation columns employing moving valve trays are evaluated. Only four models for predicting valve tray efficiencies exist in the open literature. All of these models use data from valve trays. The last theoretical model was published in 1972, 42 years ago. By comparison, sieve tray efficiency models are numerous and recent. Sieve tray models were developed from large databases. There are no valve tray equivalents to the fundamental mechanistic models available for sieve trays. Despite the differences between valve and sieve trays, many of the phenomena on sieve and valve trays are similar. Consequently, sieve tray models can be employed to provide estimates for valve trays. In this work, using public FRI data on round moving valves, the performance of the Chen and Chuang sieve tray mechanistic model is compared to the performance of four valve tray models. It appears that, in the absence of fundamental (and qualified) valve tray models, the sieve tray models present a potential alternative for valve tray efficiency predictions.     

Heat transfer modelling of sieve trays

A heat transfer model that accounts for both gas and liquid phase resistance was developed for sieve trays where the overall heat transfer coefficient is expressed as a function of Sauter-mean bubble diameter. These diameters, obtained from pilot plant data, were correlated and used to predict point efficiencies on production plant trays. Applying the appropriate liquid flow distribution model allows the prediction of overall tray efficiencies. Predicted temperature profiles have agreed well with measured plant profiles and tray changes at the production plant have resulted in steam savings that were adequately predicted by the model.     

Computational fluid dynamic simulation of MVG tray hydraulics

The flow pattern and hydraulics of a Mini V-Grid valve (MVG) tray is predicted by using computational fluid dynamics simulation. A 3-D CFD model in the Eulerian framework was used. The simulation results for MVG tray are compared with that of sieve tray. The sieve tray geometry and operating conditions are based on the Solari and Bell’s sieve tray [1]. The MVG tray differs from that of Solari and Bell’s sieve tray solely by the difference in design of available openings for the flow of gas. The simulation results show that the clear liquid height and the pressure drop of MVG tray are lower than that of sieve tray whereas the liquid velocity is higher and contacts of phases are good. The simulation results of sieve tray are in agreement with the experimental data of Solari and Bell [1].     

CFD and experimental studies of liquid weeping in the circular sieve tray columns

Sieve trays are widely used in fractionating devices like tray distillation towers existing in separation and purification industries. The weeping phenomenon that has a critical effect on the efficiency of tray towers was studied by a numerical model and some experiments. The experiments were carried out in a pilot scale column with the diameter of 1.22 m that includes two test trays and two chimney trays. Weeping rates and some hydraulic parameters were measured in sieve trays with the hole area of 7.04%. Furthermore, the total weeping rate and weeping rate in inlet and outlet halves of the test tray were determined. It was also used an Eulerian–Eulerian computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method for the present study. The model was able to predict the dry tray pressure drop, total pressure drop, clear liquid height, froth height, and weeping rate simultaneously. Furthermore, the obtained CFD results were in a good agreement with the experimental data in terms of pressure drop and the model properly predicted several hydraulic parameters like the liquid weeping behavior along the tray.     

Hydrodynamic characteristics of valve tray: Computational fluid dynamic simulation and experimental studies

In order to better understand the hydrodynamics of valve trays, air-water operation in an industrial scale tower with 1.2 m of diameter, consisting of two 14% valve trays, was studied. Experimental results of clear liquid height, froth height, average liquid holdup, dry pressure drop, total pressure drop, weeping and entrainment were investigated, and empirical correlations were presented. Then, a three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation in an Eulerian framework for valve tray with ANSYS CFX software was done. The drag coefficient, which was used in the CFD simulations, was calculated from the data obtained in the experiments. The simulation results were found to be in good agreement with experimental data at this industrial scale. The objective of the work was to study the extent to which experimental and CFD simulations must be used together as a prediction and design tool for industrial trays.     

Mass transfer modelling for GS heavy water plants: Part II: Tray efficiency on GS sieve trays

A mass transfer model to predict tray efficiency on industrial GS process sieve trays is presented. Tray efficiencies are predicted from point efficiencies on large trays up to 8.5 m in diameter, by taking into account effects of liquid flow distribution, weeping, entrainment, gas mixing and liquid mixing in the downcomers. Predictions by the model agree with tray efficiencies measured at the heavy water plants.     

Computational Fluid Dynamics versus Experiment: An Investigation on Liquid Weeping of Nye Trays

The weeping phenomenon was investigated using some experimental tests and a numerical model. The tests were performed within a 1.22‐m‐diameter pilot‐scale column including two chimney trays and two Nye test trays with an air‐water system. The rates of weeping were measured in the Nye trays with two heights of the weir and a hole area of 5 %. Moreover, the weeping rates in the outlet and inlet halves of the Nye tray and the total weeping rate were calculated. In the next step, an Eulerian‐Eulerian computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technique was used. The results show good agreement between the attained CFD findings and the experimental data.     

CFD gas-liquid simulation of oriented valve tray

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has recentlyemerged as an effective tool for the investigation of the hydraulic parameters and efficiency of tray towers. The computation domain was established for two types of oriented valves within a tray and meshed into two parts with different grid types and sizes. The volume fraction correlation concerning inter-phase momentum transfer source was fitted based on experimental data, and built in UDF for simulation. The flow pattern of oriented valve tray under different operating conditionswas simulated under Eulerian-Eulerian framework with realizable k-ε model. The predicted liquid height from CFD simulation was in good agreement with the results of pressure drop and volume fraction correlations. Meanwhile, the velocity distribution and volume fraction of the two phases were demonstrated and analyzed, which are useful in design and analysis of the column trays.     

筛孔塔板漏液操作状态下气液两相流场的CFD模拟研究

本文采用Eulerian两相流模型模拟计算了0.5m×0.5m矩形筛孔塔板漏液操作状态下气液两相流流场.本文用塔板漏液量来衡量模型准确性的标准,对比了模拟计算得到的漏液量和经验关联式计算结果,两者吻合较好,证明了本文所建气液两相流模型可以较为准确的描述漏液状态下筛孔塔板气液两相流场.     

筛板精馏塔的板效率研究

在直径为0.75 m,塔高4m的不锈钢热模塔内,以正庚烷—环己烷为物系、在常压、全回流条件下,进行筛板塔传质效率的研究,选取孔径为13mm和6 mm,开孔率为3.9％和6.4％的塔板,测试了这些塔板的气液相默弗里板效率,通过排列组合,考察了孔径、不同塔板位置和出口堰高对传质效率的影响,并进行了传质效果对比.此外还运用A...     

鼓泡破泡一体化高效精馏塔盘流动特性与CFD模拟

就痕量精馏中塔板传质效率低、需强化气液传质的问题,研究者提出了新型鼓泡破泡一体化高效精馏塔盘,通过在筛板上泡沫层高度范围内设置一层破泡装置,打破大气泡,减小气泡体积,强制界面进行更新,从而提高传质效率。采用双欧拉模型分别对鼓泡破泡一体化塔盘和筛板进行了气液流场的数值模拟,并对模型进行了验证。对比两种塔板的计算结果可以看出：在相同操作条件下,破泡装置将大气泡破裂成无数小气泡,使高气含率区域面积较普通筛板进一步增大,且气含率梯度变化更均匀;增加破泡装置后,在相同气速条件下气泡上升速度下降,气体在液层中的滞留时间延长,使鼓泡层高度增加,可显著提高传质效率,且降低了气体雾沫夹带量;破泡装置还明显改善了气相的纵向分布,气含率由塔板底部向上逐渐增大且存在明显分界;破泡装置附近湍动较剧烈,气泡破碎喷出的气体会进一步撕裂液膜,气体破碎作用会抑制气泡聚并,促进界面的快速更新更有利于传质过程的进行。研究结果可对工业塔板设计和优化提供指导。     

A modified model of computational mass transfer for distillation column

The computational mass transfer (CMT) model is composed of the basic differential mass transfer equation, closing with auxiliary equations, and the appropriate accompanying CFD formulation. In the present modified CMT model, the closing auxiliary equations [Liu, B.T., 2003. Study of a new mass transfer model of CFD and its application on distillation tray. Ph.D. Dissertation, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China; Sun, Z.M., Liu, B.T., Yuan, X.G., Liu, C.J., Yu, K.T., 2005. New turbulent model for computational mass transfer and its application to a commercial-scale distillation column. Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research 44, 4427-4434] are further simplified for reducing the complication of computation. At the same time, the CFD formulation is also improved for better velocity field prediction. By this complex model, the turbulent mass transfer diffusivity, the three-dimensional velocity/concentration profiles and the efficiency of mass transfer equipment can be predicted simultaneously. To demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed simplified CMT model, simulation was made for distillation column, and the simulated results are compared with the experimental data taken from literatures. The predicted distribution of liquid velocity on a tray and the average mass transfer diffusivity are in reasonable agreement with the reported experimental measurement [Solari, R.B., Bell, R.L., 1986. Fluid flow patterns and velocity distribution on commercial-scale sieve trays. AI.Ch.E. Journal 32, 640-649; Cai, T.J., Chen, G.X., 2004. Liquid back-mixing on distillation trays. Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research 43, 2590-2597]. In applying the modified model to a commercial scale distillation tray column, the predictions of the concentration at the outlet of each tray and the tray efficiency are satisfactorily confirmed by the published experimental data [Sakata, M., Yanagi, T., 1979. Performance of a commercial scale sieve tray. Institution of Chemical Engineers Symposium Series, vol. 56, pp. 3.2/21-3.2/34]. Furthermore, the validity of the present model is also shown by checking the computed results with a reported pilot-scale tray column [Garcia, J.A., Fair, J.R., 2000. A fundamental model for the prediction of distillation sieve tray efficiency. 1. Database development. Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research 39, 1809-1817] in the bottom concentration and the overall tray efficiency under different operating conditions. The modified CMT model is expected to be useful in the design and analysis of distillation column.     

Hydraulic,mass transfer and heat transfer performance comparison between ordered bed packing and sieve trays

The Girdler–Sulfide (GS) heavy water production process has traditionally used tray columns because of their large size. In recent years, the chemical industry has extended the use of packing to larger columns because of economic and performance advantages. A pilot scale study was thus initiated to compare the hydraulic, mass transfer and heat transfer performance of an ordered bed packing (Mellapak) with sieve trays operating under GS process conditions. Mellapak offered lower pressure drops, higher throughputs and improved heat transfer over sieve trays. However, benefits to deuterium mass transfer were only marginal in large diameter columns.     

半椭圆固定阀塔板性能研究

应用空气–富氧水系统,在直径1 200 mm不锈钢塔内,对半椭圆固定阀塔板进行了实验室研究,研究结果表明:半椭圆固定阀塔板的压降略高于筛孔塔板,比F1浮阀塔板小得多,雾沫夹带率低于筛孔塔板和F1浮阀塔板,泄漏率比筛孔塔板低,比F1浮阀塔板高,传质效率优于筛孔塔板和F1浮阀塔板,是一种综合性能优异的塔板。     

Mass transfer modelling for GS heavy water plants: Part 1: Point efficiency on GS sieve trays

A model that takes into account the gas-phase and liquid-phase resistance to mass transfer has been developed, where the overall mass transfer coefficient (K_OGa) is expressed as a function of the equivalent Sauter-mean bubble diameter. This parameter was back calculated from mass transfer measurements made at a pilot plant on single pass sieve trays of 0.311 m diameter. Hydraulic parameters were measured for these trays as well. Mean bubble diameters were then correlated as a function of active area F-factor and dispersion height for various tray geometries, and these correlations are used to predict point efficiencies on production plant trays up to 8.5 m in diameter.     

计算传质法预测精馏塔效率(英文)

A computational mass transfer model is proposed for predicting the concentration profile and Murphree efficiency of sieve tray distillation column. The proposed model is based on using modified two equations formulation for closing the differential turbulent mass transfer equation with improvement by considering the vapor injected from the sieve hole to be three dimensional. The predicted concentration distributions by using proposed model were checked by experimental work conducted on a sieve tray simulator of 1.2 meters in diameter for de-sorbing the dissolved oxygen in the feed water by blowing air. The model predictions were confirmed by the ex-perimental measurement. The validation of the proposed model was further tested by comparing the simulated re-sult with the performance of an industrial scale sieve tray distillation column reported by Kunesh et al. for the strip-ping of toluene from its water solution. The predicted outlet concentration of each tray and the Murphree tray effi-ciencies under different operating conditions were in agreement with the published data. The simulated turbulent mass transfer diffusivity on each tray was within the range of the experimental result in the same sieve column re-ported by Cai et al. In addition, the prediction of the influence of sieve tray structure on the tray efficiency by using the proposed model was demonstrated.     

Trays for gas-liquid contacting

A type of tray for gas-liquid contacting is described, in which the free area for gas flow through the tray is variable with and controlled by the gas flowrate. The property through which control of the free area is effected is the surface tension of the liquid phase. The advantages are the same as those of ballast and valve trays; namely, reduced pressure drop at high gas rates resulting in increased column capacity, and reduced free space at lower gas rates resulting in high mass transfer efficiency at low and medium vapor loadings as well. Tooling and production costs for the trays of the present investigation, however, are considerably lower than for ballast or valve trays or any other types which require machining operations in their fabrication, and are as low or lower than for sieve trays. Initial experimental comparisons with conventional trays demonstrated that the trays of the present investigation, although designed primarily for operation at high vapor loadings, were indeed capable of yielding high mass transfer efficiencies in the low-to-medium range of vapor loading     

New Column Design to Enhance Flexibility: Concept for Hydrodynamic Characterization

This study presents a new and innovative sieve tray design for a more flexible operation of separation columns in terms of possible throughput. The advantage of this new tray design is to ensure an optimal operation for varying feed flow rates and constant separation efficiencies for different load ranges. The aim of this work is to give a short introduction and an outlook to the investigation of the functionality of the designed trays. Moreover, the general design of the new trays, first results for CFD simulations of the dry pressure drop and the experimental setup are presented.     

Hydrodynamics of Distillation Tray Column with Structured Catalyst Containing Envelopes: Experiments versus CFD Simulations

We report studies on the hydrodynamics of a distillation sieve tray column in which structured catalyst containing wire‐gauze envelopes are dispersed along the liquid flow direction. The gas and liquid phases are in cross‐current contact on the tray and were studied using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). Experiments were carried out to determine the clear liquid height on a rectangular tray as a function of geometry and operating conditions. The agreement between the experiments and CFD simulations was found to be very good, suggesting that CFD simulations can be used for design and scale‐up purposes.     

Three Dimensional Simulation of Liquid Flow on Distillation Tray

The liquid flow on a single-pass sieve distillation tray is simulated with a three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) program with the K-ε turbulence model. In the model, a source term SMi is formulated in the Navier-Stokes equations to represent the interfacial momentum transfer and another term SC is added to the mass transfer equation as the source of interfacial mass transfer. The simulation provides the detailed information of the three-dimensional distribution of liquid velocity on the tray, the circulation area and the concentration profile along the height of liquid layer.