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Column Height and Diameter Guidelines

The height of a distillation column is related to the number of trays. The formula assumes 2 feet of spacing between trays, plus 5-10 feet at the top and bottom. The column height should not exceed 175 feet. The height to diameter ratio should be between 20 to 30 feet. For columns over 190 feet, smaller tray spacing should be considered. The column diameter is determined by the vapor velocity, which is 60-85% of the flooding velocity. The flooding velocity is calculated using the coefficient of velocity and densities of the liquid and vapor.

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259Katkar Prathmesh
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671 views6 pages

Column Height and Diameter Guidelines

The height of a distillation column is related to the number of trays. The formula assumes 2 feet of spacing between trays, plus 5-10 feet at the top and bottom. The column height should not exceed 175 feet. The height to diameter ratio should be between 20 to 30 feet. For columns over 190 feet, smaller tray spacing should be considered. The column diameter is determined by the vapor velocity, which is 60-85% of the flooding velocity. The flooding velocity is calculated using the coefficient of velocity and densities of the liquid and vapor.

Uploaded by

259Katkar Prathmesh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Height of the Column

The height can be related to the number of the trays in


the column. the following formula assumes that a
spacing of the two feet between trays will be sufficient
including additional five to ten feet at both ends of the
tower ( bottom to top tray ).

As per literature -

Htower =2.3 Nactual


Step.6 The principle dimensions of
the column ( Diameter/height)
design guidelines
1. Height of the column should not be higher then 175
feet.
2. Height to diameter ratio should not be less then 20
to 30 feet.
3. if the tower is higher then190 feet , then design with
smaller tray spacing should be considered .
Diameter of the column
Vapor velocity
Before we can determine the tower diameter we need
to determine the vapor velocity. the vapor velocity can
be derived from the flooding velocity .to limit our
column from flooding ,we choose a velocity 60 to 85
percent of the flooding.

* uoperating = 60 to 85 % of the flooding velocity


mass flow rate of vapor = density of vapor x volumetric flow rate
m.u = ρu x v
mu = ρu x A x uoperating velocity
uf = cf√(ρl-ρu)/ρu
cf =coefficient of velocity
mu =ρu x AN x uoperating
mu = ρu x AN x 0.85 x uf ………(1)
we know that –
Total area = down comer area + Net area
AT = AD+AN ……..(2)
We know that –
Down comer area is equal to 10 -20 % of the total area .
AT = 0.2Acs + AN
We know that –
AT = Acs
Acs = AN / 0.8 ………(3)
We know that cylinder cross sectional area –
Acs = л/4 Dc2
DC = √ 4 x AN / 0.8 x л from equn. (3)
where DC is cross sectional diameter
Flooding velocity calculation chart

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