Horton sphere is used for the storage of gases and volatile liquid at a moderate pressure of 1 to 10 kg/cm²
Diameter of Horton sphere is normally 6 to 25 metres and it is supported by 6 to 12 nos. tubular or rolled section column
Thickness of spherical shell is half that of the cylinderical vessel under same operating pressure condition. Besides, the ratio of surface area to volume is less for sphere than any other shape ; hen
Horton sphere is used for the storage of liquid at sub-zero temperature at very high pressure upto 200 kg/cm²
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
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
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
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