Tray efficiencies empirical efficiency production

The best known and most used empirical method is that of O Connell (Figure 12.60), for distillation columns and absorbers. The curves are based on plant data for several bubble-cap columns plus a few pilot-scale units. Efficiency is related to two properties of the feed mixture liquid viscosity and relative volatility a. Higher values of the p a product indicate larger liquid-side mass transfer resistance and hence a lower efficiency. For a vapor feed or a mixed vapor-liquid feed, the correlating viscosity should be that of the feed tray liquid. 

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