A Novel SiC Foam Valve Tray for Distillation Columns

The novel SiC foam valve tray was made of thin slices of SiC foam material with a high specific surface area. Hydrodynamic performances of the novel SiC foam valve tray were studied with air-water system at atmospheric pressure. These performance parameters included pressure drop, entrainment, weeping and clear liquid height. The mass transfer efficiency of the SiC foam valve tray was measured in laboratory plate column. Compared with the F1 float valve tray, the dry pressure drop was decreased about 25%, the entrainment rate was about 70% lower at high gas load, the weeping was much better, and the mass transfer efficiency was far higher. Thus, the overall performance of the novel SiC foam valve tray was better than that of F1 float valve tray.