Mechanisms of recirculating liquid flow on distillation sieve plates

Journal Article · Tue Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ie00035a021· OSTI ID:6658216

Biddulph, M W ^[1]; Burton, A C ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Nottingham (United Kingdom). Dept. of Chemical Engineering
2. BOC Group, Murray Hill, NJ (United States)

This paper describes an experimental investigation into the phenomenon of flow recirculation on distillation sieve trays. A novel dye injection technique has been applied to a 1.81 m air-water simulation column and has yielded new information concerning the nature of the boundary layer of gas-liquid biphase as it detaches from the column wall. The study has shown that recirculation is strongly influenced by inlet conditions. A critical factor is the underflow clearance between the inlet downcomer apron and the tray floor. As this clearance is increased, the size of the recirculating zones passes through a minimum, indicating the existence of two different mechanisms responsible for the nonuniform flow patterns. A significant implication of this work is that tray designers may minimize the impact of recirculating on mass transfer efficiency by appropriate choice of underflow clearance.

• OSTI ID: 6658216
• Journal Information: Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research; (United States), Journal Name: Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research; (United States) Vol. 33:11; ISSN IECRED; ISSN 0888-5885
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020400 -- Petroleum-- Processing
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320303* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Equipment & Processes
DESIGN
DISTILLATION EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
FLOW VISUALIZATION
FLUID FLOW
FLUIDS
GASES
LIQUIDS
PERFORMANCE
RECYCLING