The total weight of a dry plate tower is usually much more than that of a dry packed tower designed for the same duty
In operations involving large temperature changes. (e.g. distillation), plate towers are preferred over packed towers as the packing may be crushed due to large temperature changes
Plate tower is preferred over packed tower, if the operation involves liquids containing dispersed solids
Plate tower is perferred, if interstage cooling is required to remove heats of reaction or solution
Bracket supports are used for horizontal shell, while saddle support is used for vertical shell
Baffles are supported independently of the tubes by tie rods and positioned by spacers
Clearance between shell & baffles and between tube & baffles should be minimum to avoid by-passing of the fluid, but it should be enough to permit the removal of tube bundle
Tie rods are fixed at one end in the tube sheet by making blind holes and the minimum number of tie rods is 4 with at least 10 mm diameter
EXAMIANS