TYPES of PLATES
To know more about Distillation Column Design, you may refer to: Distillation Design by Henry Kister
1. Plate columns can handle wide range of gas and
liquid flow rates.
2. Plate efficiency can be predicted more accurately.
3. Plate column operation is considerably smooth.
4. Cooling arrangement can be provided in plate
column.
5. Plate column provide stage wise contact.
6. When liquid cause fouling or deposition of solids,
even though the tray is blocked up, it is easier to
clean it and manholes can be provided over the plate.
7. Foaming system reduces the performance of plate
columns. Anti foaming agents can be made use of to
suppress the foam.
8. Liquid hold up is very high resulting in very high
pressure drop.
9.For corrosive liquids, cost of plate column is too
high due to use of corrosion resistant material.
PLATE COLUMN
1. Packed columns are more suitable for low capacity
operations.
PACKED COLUMN
2. Pressure drop per unit length is less in packed column.
3. Packed columns are particularly useful for vacuum distillation
where minimizing column pressure drop is of paramount
importance.
4. For separating heat sensitive materials packed columns are
useful because the liquid hold up is low.
5. When corrosion is a problem packing is the only answer.
6. Packed column provides continuous contact between the
vapor and liquid phases.
7. Packed columns are suitable for foaming system.
8. HETP prediction may not be very accurate.
9. Packed columns are not suitable for very low liquid rates.
10. Provision of cooling is difficult in packed columns.
11. Removal of side stream is not possible in packed column.
Structured Packing