Trayed Towers and Packed Columns

This logic would also apply to packed towers. However, designing for a strong bed limiter (i.e., packing a holddown grid) would largely avoid this sort of failure. 

I have never seen or heard about tray failure due to a relief valve opening. However, in a packed distillation tower, I am aware of at least one such incident, also at the Whiting Refinery. 

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