AIChE manual updates and consolidates procedures for testing performance of distillation columnsFrom classic distillation operations to air stripping to other separations processes, selecting the correct column for appropriate efficient, safe, and environmentally-sound operations can be an important step. The newest updated volume in AIChE's long-running Equipment Testing Procedures series, Trayed and Packed Columns: A Guide to Performance Evaluation, Third Edition provides chemical engineers, plant managers, and other professionals with helpful advice to assess and measure performance of a variety of distillation columns, including those that utilize bubble cap, sieve, valve trays, or packing material.The new book combines and updates into one user-friendly volume the best available field knowledge from previous publications on both types of distillation columns. Designed not as a single set of compulsory steps, but as a compilation of techniques, it will allow the user to select the procedure that best applies to its operating parameters. The testing steps presented can be used to assess reliable performance data on mass transfer efficiency, capacity, energy consumption, and pressure drop--information essential to effective troubleshooting of performance problems, identifying capacity bottlenecks, determining operating ranges, and a number of other routine maintenance and optimization processes.Opening with an extensive definition section, organized by topical area, the book then goes on to address:* Selection of instrumentation and identification of elements to be measured* Pre-test planning procedures* Strategies for data collection and evaluation, including sampling procedures* Pre-test, in-test, and post-test considerations (equipment, safety, process, environmental)* Computation and interpretation of results, including individual breakdowns for trayed and packed columns in terms of hydraulic and efficiency performance* Test troubleshooting analysis in twelve key areasThe book concludes with appendices for relevant symbols and nomenclature, plus sample caculations generated from performance tests.With its engineer-tested procedures and thorough explanations, Trayed and Packed Columns: A Guide to Performance Evaluation, Third Edition is an essential text for anyone engaged in implementing new technology in equipment design, identifying process problems, and optimizing equipment performance.

100.0 PURPOSE & SCOPE 1101.0 Purpose 1102.0 Scope 1200.0 DEFINITION AND DESCRIPTION OF TERMS 2201.0 Flow Quantities 2202.0 Key Components 3203.0 Mass Transfer Efficiency 4203.1 Theoretical Trays or Plates or Stages 4203.2 Overall Column Efficiency 4203.3 Apparent Murphree Tray Efficiency 4203.4 Ideal Murphree Tray Efficiency 4203.5 Murphree Point Efficiency 4203.6 HETP 4203.7 HTU 4203.8 NTU 4204.0 Operating Lines 5205.0 Pinch 5206.0 Maximum Throughput 5206.1 Maximum Hydraulic Throughput 5206.2 Maximum Operational Capacity 5206.3 Maximum Efficient Capacity 5207.0 Minimum Operating Rate 5208.0 Operating Section 5209.0 Hardware 6209.1 Components of a Trayed Column 6209.2 Components of a Packed Column 7300.0 TEST PLANNING 9301.0 Preliminary Preparation 9301.1 Safety 10301.2 Environmental Considerations 10301.3 Test Objectives 10301.4 Organizational Resources 10301.5 Schedule 10301.6 Review of Historic Operating Data 10302.0 Column Control and Instrumentation 11303.0 Peripheral Equipment 11304.0 Pre-test Calculations 11304.1 Process Simulation 11304.2 Dry Run 11305.0 Types of Tests 12305.1 Performance Tests 12305.2 Acceptance Tests 12306.0 Specific Areas of Interest 12306.1 Packing Efficiencies 12306.2 Tray Efficiencies 12306.3 Overall Column Efficiency 13306.4 Capacity Limitations 13307.0 Energy Consumption 14308.0 Pressure Drop Restrictions 15309.0 Data Collection Requirements 15309.1 Process Operating Data 15309.2 Gamma Scan Data 15310.0 Conditions of External Streams 18310.1 Overall and Component Material Balances 18310.2 Overall Enthalpy Balances 18311.0 Internal Temperatures 18311.1 Heat Balances 18311.2 Internal Profiles 18312.0 Internal Samples 20312.1 Internal Samples for Efficiency Checks 20312.2 Internal Samples for Overall Performance 20313.0 Pressure Profiles 20314.0 Data Requirements-Physical Properties 20314.1 Test Mixtures 20314.2 Essential Data 21315.0 Auxiliary Data 21316.0 Test Procedure Documentation 21400.0 METHODS OF MEASUREMENT AND SAMPLING 22401.0 System Controls and Operating Stability 22402.0 Measurement of Temperatures 22402.1 Accuracy 22402.2 Errors 22403.0 Measurement of Flow Rates 24403.1 Orifice Meters 24403.2 Rotameters 25403.3 Vortex Flow Meters 25403.4 Coriolis Flow Meters 25403.5 Magnetic Flow Meters 25403.6 Pitot Tube (or Annubar) 25403.7 Direct Volume or Weight Measurement 26404.0 Measurement of Column Pressure Drop 26404.1 Instrument 26404.2 Pressure Taps 26404.3 Seal Pots 33404.4 Leakage Check 33404.5 Accuracy 33405.0 Sampling Procedure 34405.1 General 34405.2 Selection of Sampling Points 34405.3 Sample Connections 35405.4 Containers 35405.5 Sampling of High Boiling Materials 36405.6 Sampling of Intermediate Boiling Materials 37405.7 Sampling of Materials Having Boiling Points Below -50°F (-46°C) 40405.8 Leakage Check 41405.9 Labeling and Handling the Samples 41500.0 TEST PROCEDURE 43501.0 Preliminary 43502.0 Test Procedure for Maximum Hydraulic Throughput 43502.1 Flood Symptoms 44502.2 Performing Capacity Tests 45502.3 Optional Test Technique - Gamma Scanning 48503.0 Considerations Affecting Efficiency Test Procedure 48503.1 Rigorous Versus Shortcut Efficiency Tests 48503.2 Strategy of Efficiency Testing 49503.3 Early Preparation for Efficiency Tests 50503.4 Last-minute Preparations for Efficiency Tests 53503.5 Establishment of Steady State Conditions 55503.6 The Test Day 56503.7 Concluding Test 56600.0 COMPUTATION OF RESULTS601.0 Verification of Test Data and Simulation Models 58602.0 Material Balance 59602.1 End Effects 59603.0 Enthalpy Balance 59603.1 Overall Balance 59603.2 Internal Flow Rates 60604.0 Hydraulic Performance 60604.1 Trayed Column 60604.2 Packed Column 61605.0 Efficiency Performance 61605.1 Trayed Column 62605.2 Packed Column 69700.0 INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS 76701.0 Sources of Experimental Error 76701.1 Material and Enthalpy Balances 77702.0 Effects of Experimental Error 78703.0 Design versus Performance 78703.1 Mechanical/Tower Equipment 78703.2 Process Conditions 78704.0 Hydraulic Performance 79704.1 Mechanical/Tower Equipment 79704.2 Tray 79704.3 Packing 80704.4 Process Conditions 80705.0 Mass Transfer Performance 81705.1 Mechanical/Tower Equipment 81705.2 Tray 81705.3 Packing 82705.4 Maldistribution 82705.5 Process 84706.0 Test Troubleshooting 85706.1 Analysis Procedure 85706.2 Sampling 85706.3 Equilibrium Data 85706.4 Temperature Measurements 85706.5 Heat and Material Balances 86706.6 Fluctuation of Process Conditions 86706.7 Pressure Drop Measurements 86706.8 Incorrect Prediction of Pressure Drop 86706.9 Errors in Assumptions in Modeling Mass Transfer 86706.10 Multicomponent Systems Deviate from Binary Data 87706.11 High Purity Separation 87706.12 Test and Design Conditions 87800.0 APPENDIX 88801.0 Notation 88801.1 Greek Symbols 90802.0 Sample Calculations 90802.1 General Analysis of Test Data 90802.2 Packed Column 91802.3 Trayed Column 107803.0 References 126