Tray-type tower is a type of column used in chemical processes, particularly for distillation, absorption, or stripping operations. In these towers, trays or plates are installed at different levels to promote contact between vapor and liquid phases, enhancing mass transfer. The vapor flows upward through the column while the liquid flows downward, and the trays provide surfaces for interaction between the two phases. This design is often contrasted with packed towers, where structured or random packing material is used instead of trays to provide surface area for vapor-liquid contact.
Key Features
- Sieve Trays - Have perforations to allow vapor to pass through.
- Bubble-cap Trays - Use caps over the holes to force the vapor to bubble through the liquid.
- Valve Trays - Have movable discs that open or close depending on vapor flow.
Applications
Distillation - Separating components of a mixture based on differences in boiling points.
Absorption - Removing a gas from a gas stream by using a liquid that absorbs it.
Stripping - Removing a volatile component from a liquid by using a gas.
