Distillation Column Trays
Tray selection and fabrication for specified distillation duties. ATTOMO can review the required operating cases and column arrangement to define the tray package.
Process and equipment approach
A tray deck brings rising vapour into contact with liquid, while liquid-handling features manage flow between stages. Capacity, entrainment, weeping, flooding and pressure drop influence the usable operating range. Sieve, valve and bubble-cap trays address different combinations of requirements.
Applications and product requirements
Distillation trays create staged contact between vapour and liquid in distillation, stripping and suitable absorption columns. New columns, replacement decks and capacity studies require different scopes. A like-for-like mechanical replacement does not automatically validate a higher throughput or a new separation.
Equipment and operating approach
Tray performance depends on the active area, vapour openings, downcomers, weirs, tray spacing and liquid-flow arrangement. Excessive vapour load can cause entrainment and flooding; insufficient load can allow weeping through some tray types. Hydraulic capacity and mass-transfer efficiency are different checks. Feed location, required stages and the condenser and reboiler limits also affect the column result.
Simplified equipment illustration — not a fabrication drawing or project photograph.
Define the right package.
The quotation defines the included equipment, services and battery limits.
- Tray decks and liquid-handling components
- Supports and installation hardware as specified
- Material and dimensional documentation
- Replacement interfaces for existing columns
Materials and configuration
Sieve, bubble-cap, fixed-valve and floating-valve trays can be evaluated against the operating range and fouling risk. ATTOMO’s fabrication scope can be defined from an approved design or include an agreed design review. Specify material grade, thickness, corrosion allowance, supports, manways, fasteners, tolerances and installation responsibilities, particularly when working inside an existing shell.
Utilities and operation
Minimum, normal and maximum vapour and liquid rates are required with density, viscosity, surface tension, foaming tendency and operating pressure. Drawings should identify shell dimensions, support rings and access restrictions. Inspection and installation checks must establish tray orientation, level, fit and cleanliness. Pressure-drop or turndown claims need the actual hydraulic calculations.
Information for your enquiry.
Share the information you already have. Early-stage enquiries are welcome.
- Vapour and liquid loads across all design cases
- Column diameter and tray spacing
- Fluid properties and fouling behaviour
- Material specification and allowable pressure drop
Frequently asked questions
Is there one most efficient tray for every service?
No. Selection depends on the process and operating envelope. Comparative performance needs a common design basis.
What is needed for replacement trays?
Existing drawings, verified dimensions, support details, access information and current process loads are needed before compatibility is confirmed.
Can tray replacement increase column capacity?
It may, but the shell, downcomers, internals, reboiler, condenser and controls must all be checked. A replacement deck alone does not establish a capacity increase.
Which tray type is best for variable production?
Compare operating range, pressure drop, liquid load, fouling and maintenance access. A universal ranking is misleading; evaluate the same process cases for each option.
Can ATTOMO fabricate trays to customer drawings?
A drawing-based package can be defined with materials, dimensions, quantities and inspection requirements. Process-performance responsibility should be separated from manufacturing conformity.