Ja. Garcia et Jr. Fair, A fundamental model for the prediction of distillation sieve tray efficiency. 2. Model development and validation, IND ENG RES, 39(6), 2000, pp. 1818-1825
A mechanistic model has been developed for the prediction of sieve tray poi
nt efficiency for both aqueous and hydrocarbon systems. A forerunner of the
model was developed from fundamental relationships by Prado and Fair in 19
90 and was based on gas-liquid transfer in systems of predominantly air and
water. The earlier model has now been modified and extended. Contacting on
a sieve tray is considered analogous to gas-liquid contacting in a mechani
cally agitated vessel? and supporting research has been adapted to the tray
-contacting case. Studies in bubble columns have provided information on bu
bble size distribution and bubble stability at high pressure; these studies
coupled with isotropic flow theory have formed the basis for correlating b
ubble size distribution as well as the fraction of small bubbles in the sie
ve tray froth. New tray efficiency data taken on a semi-industrial scale ha
ve been combined with published data as well as new data released by Fracti
onation Research, Inc. to form a large database suitable for model testing.
The development of the database is described in part 1 of this series. In
part 2, details of the new model are presented along with a comparison of p
redicted and measured efficiencies. Predicted efficiencies were found to be
within +/-25% of the measured (or deduced) values of the same efficiency.
Comparisons are included, showing the fit of the same data bank to the mode
l of Chan and Fair published in 1984.