Effect of Liquid Channeling on a 1.8-m Distillation Sieve Tray

This paper describes an experimental investigation designed to establish the extent of the effects of liquid channeling and stagnant zones on the efficiency of a 1.8-m diameter sieve tray. The method used is to compare performance, in the same column and using the same system, with a novel tray which is known, from hydraulic studies, to remove stagnant zones. It is found that there is an observable loss in efficiency in the sieve tray, particularly at heavy loadings, and this will have implications for designers specifying high-capacity trays for new or upgraded columns.