Modeling Flow-Guided Sieve Tray Hydraulics Using Computational Fluid Dynamics

A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was used to predict the hydraulics and flow patterns of flow-guided sieve tray, which combined common sieve holes with flow-guided holes. The model considered the three-dimensional two-phase flow of gas and liquid, and each phase was treated as interpenetrating continua that had separate transport equations. Interaction between the two phases was considered via an interphase momentum transfer term, which was incorporated into the CFD model. On the basis of experimental measurement, the new correlations of clear liquid height and gas holdup were developed. The velocity distribution, clear liquid height, and foam height were predicted and found to be in good agreement with the experimental data. Distribution of clear liquid height and liquid holdup proved that flow-guided holes can promote the liquid flow and decrease the clear liquid height. The CFD method is a useful tool for optimizing the novel flow-guided sieve tray.