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What Are The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Packed Column

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The casings for both packed columns and trayed columns are very similar as shown in Figure 2. But with trayed vessels the packing system is exchanged for trays. This configuration increases the contact area between vapour and liquid. (Rackley, 2010), since the liquid will condense on and wet the whole surface area of the packing material, and allows a reduction in the physical size of the column for a given separation requirement.
The advantages of packed columns are that it is the most cost-efficient distillation tower when the diameter of the column is less than 0.6 m, this is because packing can be made from non-reactive materials, therefore the packed beds are able to withstand corrosive materials. The lower the pressure drop in plate columns, causes less tower flooding. The column is good for thermally sensitive fluids and suitable for low pressure operations. The disadvantages are that packing can break during the set-up, or due to thermal expansion. Packed columns aren’t cost effective for high liquid flow rates. Contact efficiencies are decreased when the liquid flow rate is too low.
Also, the advantages for trayed columns are that it is they are most cost-efficient for diameters greater than 0.6 m, therefore depending on the diameter, influences the choice of whether you choose a packed or trayed distillation column. The liquid/gas contact in the cross-flow of tray columns is more efficient than the counter current flow in packed columns. Cooling coils can easily

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