Experimental Hydrodynamics Performance Comparison of Sieve and Centrifugal Tray in a Dividing Wall Column

The Dividing Wall Column (DWC) is a typical example of process intensification, which can reduce total annual cost and energy consumption in the distillation process. This study delves into the hydrodynamics of sieve trays and centrifuge trays within  a commercial-scale air-water DWC equipped with a circular downcomer. The experimental liquid loads were ۰.۵,۱, ۱.۵, and ۲ L/min, and gas flow in terms of  form ۰.۲۱۸۱ until ۲.۳۰۳۳ m/s (Kg/m۳)۰.۵. Various factors, including dry and wet pressure drop, froth height, weeping, and entrainment, were examined and compared for both sieve and centrifuge trays. The study found that the dry pressure drop was marginally lower for sieve trays than for centrifuge trays, whereas the wet pressure drop was higher. Furthermore, the weeping rate and entrainment of centrifuge trays were substantially lower than those of conventional sieve trays, by ۲۱% and ۱۱% respectively. These results suggest that centrifuge trays in a DWC offer increased mass-transfer area, improved separation efficiency, and alleviate common issues faced by traditional trays, such as weeping, entrainment, pressure drop, and maldistribution.

کلیدواژه ها:

Dividing wall column ، Hydrodynamics ، centrifuge tray