Entrainment experiments of combined directed valve tray and CFD simulation

Hydraulic experiments were carried out on two types of combined directed valve tray. The entrainment and related hydraulics data of two 1 m diameter trays with different float valve arrangement were measured. The geometric model was established according to the structural and size parameters of experimental trays and the flow field of combined directed valve tray was simulated with Fluent 6.3.26, and the flow pattern characteristics was investigated. The simulation results of clear liquid height and entrainment agreed well with experimental data, which proved the validity of simulation. The entrainment and liquid backflow of two trays were analyzed and the results showed that the entrainment and liquid backflow could be efficiently decreased by properly arranging trapezoidal float valves with stronger oriented ability instead of rectangular float valves on tray. The average entrainment of experimental and simulation results decreased by 13.4% and 10.6%, respectively, while the average of backflow ratio decreased by 12.8%. This research results showed that CFD simulation was expected to provide a guidance for arrangement of two types of float valve and optimization design of the tray. © 2019, Chemical Industry Press. All right reserved.