>In the biofuel library (Mother/s Alcohol Fuel Seminar) there are >plans for a 6 inch (150 mm) unit filled with Pall rings. In chpt. 7 >the use of plates are discussed, and a typical plate design for a 12 >inch (300 mm) diam. column is mentioned. > >Question 1) - When should one start considering >using plates as opposed to packing? >Question 2) - What spacing should these plates have? >Are there design factors?
The idea with a fractionating column is a temperature gradient (falling of course) as you go UP the column, but a constant temperature ACROSS the column at any height. As the diameter of the column increases, it gets harder to achieve the constant temperature at a given height if you continue to use a packing material -- hence the plates. Plates give you resistance to flow in an upwards direction, but very easy "spreading" horiz- ontally. You don't give any idea of the scale of your operation, but unless you plan on a VERY robust heat source, I can't imagine being able to exceed the flowthru capability of a column 6 inches in diameter using typical packing rings, in which case packing material would be acceptable and much easier. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Take the Yahoo! Groups survey for a chance to win $1,000. Your opinion is very important to us! http://us.click.yahoo.com/NOFBfD/uAJEAA/Ey.GAA/FGYolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://archive.nnytech.net/ Please do NOT send "unsubscribe" messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
