The effect of downcomer layout pattern on tray efficiency

Abstract

A multi-branch/multi-cell model has been developed and used to evaluate the tray efficiency of examples of distillation trays with different layouts of the downcomer areas. The multi-branch/multi-cell model predicts that the trays with different downcomer area distribution patterns to have a different tray efficiency. Hence, it can help in the identification of the most efficient downcomer layout pattern and in the quantification of the expected efficiency differences.