Study Of Combined Directed Fixed Valve Trays In Foaming System

Plate column is an important chemical equipment for distillation, absorption and other unit operations. If there are some foaming agents in the column, large amounts of foam will be produced by gas-liquid contacting process. Foaming phenomenon can affect column operating performance or even endanger the safe production of the device.Using air-sodium dodecyl sulfate solution as the foaming system, air-water as the non-foaming system, hydrodynamic experiment was taken in the rectangular column on the combined directed fixed valve trays. Pressure drop, entrainment and weeping rate of foaming system and non-foaming system were measured. The effect of valve hole kinetic energy factor, liquid flow intensity, weir height, tray spacing and hole area on hydrodynamic performance have been researched. The harm of foam was studied by comparing hydrodynamic difference between the two systems. Besides, the simulation of grey water ammonia stripper was carried out with Aspen Plus software, and column internals parameters were designed on the simulation data and experiment consequence.The experimental results show that the hydrodynamic difference between the two systems is obviously observed. Foaming phenomenon can increase pressure drop, entrainment and weeping rate. The study of hydrodynamics in foaming system would contribute to internals design and column operation in foaming situation.