Process Equipment and Plant Design
The equivalent diameter for fluid flow through a channel of constant non-circular cross section of area 'A' is given by (where, P = perimeter of the channel in contact with the fluid)
Plate tower is perferred, if interstage cooling is required to remove heats of reaction or solution
The total weight of a dry plate tower is usually much more than that of a dry packed tower designed for the same duty
Plate tower is preferred over packed tower, if the operation involves liquids containing dispersed solids
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