Running distillation column with missing trays
Running distillation column with missing trays
(OP)
Dear all,
I am having a shutdown maintenance. Just open a distillation column and found three trays are damaged. Due to the exotic material, we only have one tray for replacement. To order new will take months.
The total number of trays in the column is 50. If we run the column with two missing trays, what will the concern? Is there any calculation that I can refers to. Do you have any experience in running a distillation column with missing trays
Thanks
I am having a shutdown maintenance. Just open a distillation column and found three trays are damaged. Due to the exotic material, we only have one tray for replacement. To order new will take months.
The total number of trays in the column is 50. If we run the column with two missing trays, what will the concern? Is there any calculation that I can refers to. Do you have any experience in running a distillation column with missing trays
Thanks





RE: Running distillation column with missing trays
RE: Running distillation column with missing trays
Are they adjacent or located in different sections of the tower ?
What kind of damage ? What kind of trays ? Why can't you use non-exotic materials of construction ?
I'm asking these questions because continued operation under the conditions that caused the damage may return and more damage would likely be found in future column openings.
RE: Running distillation column with missing trays
it could be useful to know the column service and where the damaged trays are located.
RE: Running distillation column with missing trays
The damaged trays are located at the bottom. All three bottom-most tray of the Stripping section. The reason it is made of exotic material is due to the high corrosivity of the process fluid at that high temperature. The most likely reason for the damage is like what Alloy said, a sudden increase in heat input to the column causing a boil-up.
I'll keep you updated on the latest.
RE: Running distillation column with missing trays
RE: Running distillation column with missing trays
- reduce the capacity
- increase the stripping duty
- take benefit of margins in the downstream plants, if any, where the bottom product is sent.
In order to better address these points it should be helpful to know the column service.