Prospectus

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DST-17 Simulator Study to Improve Tray Pressure Drop Correlation to Predict Flow Distribution Expected Benefit toMembers: More confidence is needed in the FRI pressure drop correlations to control flow distribution when designing unequal area trays. This will assist in predicting flow distribution of multi-pass trays. This may also be important to predict flow distribution with the oddly shaped trays that are found in divided wall columns. Present Situation and Proposed Research: FRI correlations do not now predict the poor flow distribution that FRI achieved in some old three pass tests. A contributing factor for this result may have been the low hole area used in those tests. It is not suggested that we model those results, but rather that we obtain a set of good results for hole areas normally found in tray columns. Proposed Internals and Test System: Tests could be run in a simulator that is at least 6’ in diameter. A fair amount of testing with 8% to 14% trays is probably needed with various three and four pass configurations. Development of a way to measure flow in the various downcomers would assist in analysis of the data. Estimated Unit Time: This would probably require about 3-6 months of simulator time. Estimated Additional Costs (Beyond Unit Time): Simulator work would probably be contracted out ($75,000). Background and Discussion: Various users of FRI information report that the FRI information does not do well in predicting the flow distribution of liquid on multipass trays. It is thought that the FRI pressure drop equation does not capture all key effects. There is also a need to predict flow and pressure drop of oddly shaped trays common in divided wall columns. Traditional Research Idea

PROSPECTUS

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