Experimental and Computational Fluid Dynamics Validation of Correlations for Dry Pressure Drop in Trays without Downcomer

The dry tray pressure drop (ΔPd) is a design parameter that provides preliminary information about the total pressure drop. This work aimed to assess correlations for ΔPd prediction for different types of trays without downcomer and to evaluate the effects of the free area ratio (φ) and the hole diameter (d) on ΔPd. Assessment was performed by comparing results of several correlations with those from an experimentally validated computational fluid dynamics simulation. The study shows that the correlations of Červenka and Kolář, Bennett, Agrawal and Cook, and Stichlmair and Mersmann predicted the dry pressure drop satisfactorily. The correlation of Bennett, Agrawal and Cook can be recommended for the prediction of ΔPd for a wide range of geometries and operation conditions. Also, φ has a higher influence on ΔPd than d. A computational fluid dynamics model for the dry pressure drop (ΔPd) in trays without downcomer was developed and its experimental validation conducted. The results were compared with values predicted by different correlations. The conclusion was that the correlation by Bennett, Agrawal and Cook can predict ΔPd for a wide range of tray geometries and operation conditions.