Gravity Line Pitfalls

The prime consideration for instrument connections is to avoid hydraulic interference in the column or impulse line, which would lead to erroneous measurements or instrument malfunction. False information supplied by instruments has been the cause of premature flooding, column damage, and poor separation in many columns. This chapter examines the preferred practices, reviews common pitfalls, and supplies guidelines for avoiding pitfalls with column instrument connections. 

Provision of adequate access to column internals makes cleaning, inspection, maintenance, dismantling, and reassembly of the column internals easier and safer. The access requirements depend on the anticipated frequency of personnel entry into the column. This chapter reviews the preferred practices and supplies guidelines for avoiding unsatisfactory access to column internals. 

Gravity flow is often used in bottom, reflux, side-draw, or feed lines. Unique considerations for gravity flow are described below, with specific reference to reflux lines. Considerations for gravity flow at other 

In smaller columns, the overhead condenser is often mounted above the column, and reflux flows to the column by gravity. The reflux drum and/or reflux control valves are frequently omitted sometimes, the bottom section of the condenser is used as a surge compartment. 

The main considerations unique to gravity reflux arrangements are 

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