Fractionation Research, Inc.

Research. Much of the research on commercial-size distiUation equipment is being done by Fractionation Research, Inc. (FRI), a nonprofit, industry-sponsored, research corporation. The industrial sponsors are fabricators, designers, and constmctors, or users of distiUation equipment. PubHcations include Hquid mixing on sieve plates (91), bubble cap plate efficiency (92), and sieve plate efficiency (93,94). A motion picture of downcomer performance is also avaUable (95). References 96 and 97 cover the Hterature from 1967 to 1990. 

Fractionation Research, Inc. Report of Tests of Nutter Type B Float Valve Tray, July 2, 1964 from Nutter Engineering Co. 

Direct Scale-Up of Laboratory Distillation Ljficiency Measurements It has been found by Fair, Null, and Bolles [Ind. Eng. Chem. Process Des. Dev., 22, 53 (1983)] that efficiency measurements in 25- and 50-mm (1- and 2-in-) diameter laboratory Oldersbaw columns closely approach tbe point efficiencies [Eq. (14-129)] measured in large sieve-plate columns. A representative comparison of scales of operation is shown in Fig. 14-37. Note that in order to achieve agreement between efficiencies it is necessaiy to ensure that (1) tbe systems being distilled are tbe same, (2) comparison is made at tbe same relative approach to tbe flood point, (3) operation is at total reflux, and (4) a standard Oldersbaw device (a small perforated-plate column with downcomers) is used in tbe laboratoiy experimentation. Fair et al. made careful comparisons for several systems, utibzing as large-scale information tbe published efficiency studies of Fractionation Research, Inc. 

FIG. 14-37 Overall column efficiency of 25-mm Oldersbaw column compared with point efficiency of 1,22-m-diameter-sieve sieve-plate column of Fractionation Research, Inc, System = cyclohexane-n-heptane, [(Fair, Null, and Bolles, Ind, Eng, Chem, Process Des, Dev, 22, 53 (i.982),]... 

Testing of plates and other devices is carried out by Fractionation Research, Inc. for industrial sponsors. Some of the test data for sieve plates have been published for the cyclohexane//i-heptane and isobu-tane//i-butane systems. Representative data are shown in Fig. 14-43. These are taken from Sakata and Yanagi Jn.stn. Chem. Engis. Symp. See. No. 56, 3.2/21 (1979)] and Yanagi and Sakata [Jnd. Eng. Chem. Proc. Des. Devel, 21, 712 (1982)]. The column diameter was 1.2 m, tray spacing was 600 mm, and weir height was 50 mm. 

FIG. 14-74 HETP values for Max-Pak structured packing,. 35 kPa (5 psia), two column diameters. Cyclohexane/n-heptane system, total reflux. For 0.4.3 m (1.4 ft) column perforated pipe distributor, 400 streams/m2, 3.05 m (10 ft) bed height. For 1.2 m (4.0 ft) column tubed drip pan distributor, 100 streams/m ,. 3.7 m (12 ft) bed height. Smaller column data. University of Texas/Austin Larger column data. Fractionation Research, Inc. To convert (ft/s)(lb/ft ) to (m/s)(kg/m ) , multiply by 1.2199. (Couiiesy Jaeger Troducts, Inc., Housion, Texas.)... 

Figure 8-31. Typical effect of liquid mixing on tray efficiency. Reprinted by permission, Sakato, M., The American Institute of Chemical Engineers. Chem. Eng. Prog. V. 62., No. 11 (1966), p. 98, all rights reserved reprinted by permission from Lewis, W. K., Jr., Ind. Eng. Chem. V. 28. (1936), p. 399, and by special permission from Fractionation Research, Inc., all rights reserved.

This concept has not gained commercial popularity due to the proprietary nature of the Fractionation Research, Inc. (FRI) data being limited to member organizations, and the public literature does not contain much independent research and application data. General industrial and commercial proprietary designs available are listed in Table 8-12, but may not be all-inclusive ... 

The Fractionation Research, Inc. design procedures are proprietary for the financial participants in this extensive test program. 

The Norton standard bubble cap is the Fractionation Research Inc. (FRI) plain cap. It is available in 3-in. and 4-in. OD and custom sizes as well. 

The perforated plate, punched plate, or Dual-Flow plate are terms used to refer to a tray operating without downcomers, with rapor and liquid passing countercurrent through perforations in the tray. The Dual-Flow term has been coined by Fractionation Research, Inc., and its design know-how is restricted to contributing members, and cannot be presented in this book. 

Figure 8-159. Data specification sheets suggested by Fractionation Research, inc. (FRi) for distiiiation trays. Used by permission. Yeoman, N. The American institute of Chemical Engineers, Chem. Eng. Prog., V. 85, No. 10 (1989), p. 15, all rights reserved.

Figure 9-9. Liquid maldistribution is a function of opening, shape, and liquid head over the opening for a /s-in. out-of-level distributor. The openings were 3-in. dia. orifice, 3-in. slot, and 22.5° V-notch. Used by permission of The American Institute of Chemical Engineers, Bonilla, J. A., Chemical Engineering Progress, V. 89, No. 3 (1993) p. 47, and with special permission from Fractionation Research, Inc., all rights reserved.

Figure 9-10. Effect of liquid maldistribution on efficiency FRI data for 25-mm Pall rings in cyciohexane/n-heptane distillation with two different quality distributors. Used by permission of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, Chemical Engineering Progress, Perry, D. and Nutter, ., Jan. (1990) p. 30, and by special permission of Fractionation Research, Inc., all rights reserved.

Figure 9-31 A. Comparison of HETP for No. 2 Nutter Rings and Pall rings in a system at 24 psia and 5 psia using the FRI tubed drip pan distributor. Data prepared and used by permission of Nutter Engineering, Harsco Corp. and by special permission of Fractionation Research, Inc. all rights reserved.

Figure 9-32B. Correlation of No. 2 Nutter Ring for 7 liquid rates versus wet pressure drop. Reproduced by permission from Nutter, D. E. and Perry, D., presented at New Orleans, La. meeting of American Institute of Chemical Engineers, March (1988), and by special permission of Fractional Research, Inc. all rights reserved.

Report of Tests of No. 2.5 Nutter Ring at Reduced Loadings, released to Nutter Engineering per Fractionation Research, Inc. Note, author and date not given. 

Kunesh, John G. and A Shariat, Packing Efficiency Testing on a Commercial Scale with Good Reflux Distribution, Fractionation Research, Inc., presented at AIChE Spring National Meeting, Houston, Texas, March (1993). 

Figure 13.42. Efficiency of Glitsch V-l valve trays on isobut-ane/butane and cyclohexane/n-heptane as a function of vapor density and percent of flood, measured by Fractionation Research Inc. (Glitsch Inc., Bulletin 160, Dallas, TX, 1958).

FIG. 14-20 Distillation flow regimes schematics and photos, (a) Froth, (b) Emulsion, (c) Spray. [Schematics from H. Z. Kister, Distillation Design, copyright 1992 by McGraw-Hill, Inc. reprinted by permission. Photographs courtesy of Fractionation Research Inc. (FRI).]... 

Sampling Fractionation Research Inc. (FRI) developed a sam-ling technique that eliminates the influence of "end effects and etects a maldistributed composition profile. This technique [Silvey and Keller, IChemE Symp. Ser. 32, p. 4 18 (1969)] samples the bed at frequent intervals, typically every 0.6 m or so. HETP is determined from a plot of these interbed samples rather than from the top and bottom compositions. 

Figure 6.1 Continued) Common tray types, (c) Sieve tray id) dual flow tray. [Pari e courtesy ofGlitsch, Inc,] [Peal d courtesy of Fractionation Research Inc. (FRI)-l...

Figure 6.27 (Continued) Tray action in the froth, spray, and emulsion regimes. Horizontal bars indicate height above tray flcor in inches, (c) Emulsion regime. Wall on right is downcomer from tray above. [All parfe courtesy of Fractionation Research Inc. (FR1).]...

The Fractionation Research Inc. unique design for inlet downcomer baffle and outlet weir (160,164) converted a highly channeled liquid flow into plug flow, Despite that it did not improve efficiency. 

Zuiderweg, Kunesh et al. (131,136,150,150a) combined the effects of local L[V ratio, lateral mixing, and liquid spreed into a single model that describes the effect of liquid maldistribution on packing efficiency. The work leading up to this model was performed at Fractionation Research Inc. (FRI) and at Delft University in The Netherlands. The model is still undergoing development. 

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