Minimum recommended downcomer residence time for the disengagement of entrained vapour is the same for both foaming and non-foaming liquids, which is about 20 seconds
For segmental downcomers, the chord length is 60-80% of the column diameter. An initial value of downcomer area of 12% is taken in the design
An increased weir height improves the tray efficiency at the cost of high plate pressure drop; optimum wear height being 40-90 mm for column pressure above atmospheric and 6-12 mm for vacuum columns
Width of the calming section provided at the inlet and outlet sides of the plate is 75 mm for column diameter below 1.5 metres and 100 mm for larger diameter columns
Murphree efficiency of all the three trays are nearly equal, however the peak efficiency is generally higher for seive and valve trays than the bubble cap
Bubble cap trays though most expensive are the best in situations, where low vapour rates is to be handled and a positive liquid seal is essential at all flow rates
Valve trays have the highest turn down ratio (i.e. the ratio of the highest to the lowest vapour flow rates) and thus provides the maximum flexible operating range
Maintenance cost for valve and seive trays are comparatively more than bubble cap tray due to their relatively complicated construction features
EXAMIANS