FRACTIONATING TOWER TRAYS, PACKING, AND INTERNALS

AUGUST 1995

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EGE 12-B-21 1995

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. 2. 3. Scope References Design 3.1 General 3.2 Fractionating Trays 3.3 Tower Packing 3.4 Seal Pans, Drawoff Boxes, and Chimney Trays 3.5 Mist Eliminators 3.6 Arrangement of Tower Internals 3.7 Tray Mechanical Design Considerations 3.8 Packed Section Mechanical Design Considerations Materials 4.1 Alloy Steel 4.2 Carbon Steel 4.3 Monel 4.4 Gasketing 5. Tolerances 6. Fabrication and Assembly 7. Inspection and Testing Appendix A Fractionation Research Inc. (FRI) Bubble Cap Appendix B Standard Random Packing Support Plate for Bed Depths Equal to or Less Than 1830 mm (6 ft) Appendix C Mist Eliminator Assembly Appendix D High Liquid Rate Gravity Distributor Specifications Appendix E Low Liquid Rate Gravity Distributor Specifications Appendix F Distributor Test Stand Specifications History of Change EGE 12-D-21A Fractionating Tray Process Design Data Sheet EGE 12-D-21B Fractionating Bed Process Design Data Sheet

4.

1. SCOPE This Guide covers the design, process requirements, materials, fabrication, assembly, installation, and testing of 1-, 2-, and 4-pass fractionating trays (sieve, valve, and bubble cap type); tower packing (random, structured, and grid); and related internals as specified on EGE 12-D-21A, EGE 12-D-21B, and in the project specifications. 2. REFERENCES The following publications form a part of this Guide. The references cited with dates in this Guide were used in its development. For all references which have been superseded, revised, and/or corrected, the user of this Guide is obligated to determine if the latest versions of the cited references have any impact on the content of this Guide or its use. Mobil Technology Company (MTC) Guide Sponsor should be consulted if there are any concerns or questions.
Mobil Engineering Guide EGE 12-B-1 (1993) Pressure Vessels Design and Fabrication

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3. DESIGN 3.1 General

3.1.1 Process requirements, including maximum and minimum vapor and liquid rates in each section of the tower, shall be as specified on EGE 12-D-21A and EGE 12-D-21B for trays and packing, respectively. The diameter and tray spacing or packing height for a new or existing tower and the percent of flood will be determined by Mobil and specified on EGE 12-D-21A or EGE 12-D-21B. Mobil will provide sketches to show tray, packing, and associated tower internals configurations based on MTC design practices. Mobil may provide the contractor or internals supplier with the relevant design standards for guidance. These sketches shall constitute what will be referred to hereinafter as the TOWER DESIGN PACKAGE. The internals supplier shall bid to the TOWER DESIGN PACKAGE and may offer alternative designs, subject to Mobil approval. The supplier shall confirm the Mobil designs or Mobil-approved designs. Any modifications required to enable the supplier to guarantee performance shall be submitted for Mobil approval during the bidding stage and prior to preparation of final drawings. 3.1.2 Certified supplier process/assembly drawings showing the general arrangement of internals in the column; the tray assemblies (if applicable); and details of the internals including material specifications, dimensional tolerances, and piece marks shall be submitted to Mobil for approval prior to the fabrication of such internals. These drawings shall also include a parts list, and each part shall be numbered. Assembly/installation procedures shall also be included. 3.1.3 Support rings, downcomer support bars, and support beam clips welded to the vessel shell, together with the weld sizes, will be detailed by the tray supplier, but will be supplied and welded in place per the suppliers details by the vessel fabricator or the installation contractor for new towers unless specified otherwise. For revamps, these vessel attachments may be furnished by the tray supplier, instead. 3.1.4 The suppliers process calculations shall be furnished to Mobil upon request. Structural design calculations shall be furnished for tower diameters larger than 3 m (10 ft) and when requested in the bid package for smaller towers. 3.1.5 For liquid distributors requiring shop testing per Appendices D, E, and F, a test plan proposal shall be submitted as part of the suppliers bid. 3.1.6 Upon shipment, the supplier shall furnish as-built drawings to the Mobil originator. An additional copy should be furnished to the MTC applied process technology group in both hard-copy and electronic media (DXF) formats. 3.2 3.2.1 Fractionating Trays General (a) Type of tray and tray geometry (hole area, hole sizes, downcomer areas, weir heights, etc.) shall be specified in the TOWER DESIGN PACKAGE. (b) Proprietary trays that have not performed satisfactorily in Fractionation Research Inc. (FRI) or equivalent tests are not acceptable to Mobil. Exceptions may be made for cases in which a marked advantage is claimed which can be proved by plant data submitted to Mobil for verification. (c) Dual flow and 3-pass trays shall not be used.

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(d) All tray joints must be of lap construction that does not interfere with liquid flow on the decks. Butt joints are not acceptable. No gasketing is required on tray decks, inlet sumps, or downcomers unless otherwise specified by Mobil. (e) Mobil has adopted the convention that "seal pan" refers to the downcomer seal at the bottom of a trayed section, and "inlet sump" refers to a recess located under the downcomer within a trayed section. (f) 3.2.2 Four pass trays shall be of equal bubbling area design. Downcomers and Inlet Sumps (a) Unless otherwise specified, the minimum and maximum downcomer clearance shall be 25 mm (1 in.) and 102 mm (4 in.), respectively. (b) The minimum vapor disengaging area (VDA) or top downcomer area and the minimum total downcomer bottom area (DBA) shall be:
C C C

6 percent for 1-pass trays. 10 percent for 2-pass trays. 14 percent for 4-pass trays. For sloped downcomers, the maximum top/bottom area ratio shall be 4.

(c)

(d) Bottom downcomer panels with chord lengths greater than 1220 mm (48 in.), and all downcomer panels on 4-pass trays shall be adjustable. The design shall permit a minimum adjustment of 13 mm (1/2 in.) from the specified downcomer clearance unless otherwise indicated on EGE 12-D-21A. (e) Radius tips shall be installed only if specified. Downcomer clips shall be designed to accommodate the radius bend and to give proper support. Radius tips shall not be installed on false downcomers or downcomers terminating in seal pans, inlet sumps, draw boxes, or inlet weirs. (f) When used in conjunction with an inlet sump, the bottom of the downcomer shall be flush with the tray floor unless otherwise specified. The minimum horizontal distance between the bottom downcomer panel and the inlet edge of the sump shall be equal to the downcomer clearance plus 13 mm (1/2 in.). (g) The maximum depth of an inlet sump shall not exceed one-quarter of the tray spacing. All inlet sumps shall have drain holes per Paragraph 3.4.2. (h) Locating tray panel joints or seams (other than those at the support ring) under the downcomers shall be avoided. 3.2.3 Weirs (a) Unless otherwise specified, the minimum outlet weir height shall be 51 mm (2 in.). The maximum outlet weir height shall be the lesser of 102 mm (4 in.) or one-sixth of the tray spacing. (b) Outlet weirs that are 1220 mm (48 in.) or longer, and all weirs on 4-pass trays shall be adjustable. The design shall permit a minimum adjustment of 13 mm (1/2 in.) from the specified height unless otherwise indicated on EGE 12-D-21A. Inlet weirs, when specified, shall be fixed.

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(c) Inlet weirs shall be provided with weep slots at the base of the weir (equivalent to the weep holes described in Paragraph 3.4.2) to provide drainage during startup and shutdown. This also applies to outlet weirs and stepdown weirs on bubble cap trays. (d) Inlet weirs shall not be utilized unless specified by Mobil.

(e) For towers with weir overflow rates less than 17.88 m3/h-m (2 gpm/in.) of weir length, notched or picket fence outlet weirs shall be used. The exact configuration of the notch or picket fence weir shall be specified in the TOWER DESIGN PACKAGE for each installation. 3.2.4 Sieve Trays (a) The perforation size shall be between 6 and 38 mm (1/4 and 11/2 in.). Typical diameters are 13 mm (1/2 in.) for clean service and 19 mm (3/4 in.) for fouling service. (b) Total punched hole area shall range from 5 to 14 percent of the bubbling area. Greater hole areas can be used with Mobil approval. Smaller hole area, if required, must be obtained by blanking. (c) Tray sections must be fabricated with a uniform triangular pitch to give the required hole area. The maximum distance between perforations shall be 178 mm (7 in.). (d) Holes covered by support beams, tray rings, or other internals shall not be included in determining the available hole area. (e) When stipulated by Mobil, excess hole area shall be covered with blanking strips secured by bolts to prevent buckling. However, no more than 50 percent of the potential unobstructed hole area may be covered with blanking strips or plates. The blanking arrangement shall be specified in the TOWER DESIGN PACKAGE. Alternative methods may be offered (such as rectangular bubbling areas, which may be permissible if the tray has low jet flood), subject to Mobil approval. Blanking by the supplier shall minimize waste area, which is defined as any area more than 89 mm (31/2 in.) away from the edge of the perforations. If waste area is incurred, the tray bubbling area shall be reduced accordingly. To prevent liquid channeling, the supplier shall either blank two rows at a time and leave one row open or blank one row at a time and leave two rows open as the blanking pattern progresses across the tray. Depending on which method the supplier chooses, the blanking pattern shall begin with either the second or third row adjacent to the outlet weir and shall be perpendicular to the liquid flow. Alternative methods may be offered, subject to Mobil approval. (f) 3.2.5 Sieve tray perforations shall have sharp, square edges and be free from burrs. Movable Valve Trays (a) The type and layout of valves shall be shown in the suppliers drawings, subject to Mobil approval. Rectangular valves are preferred to circular valves. Rectangular valves shall have strips (such as those used for Nutter valves) to prevent valve slipout. Circular valves shall have a minimum of two spin stops located to prevent any rotation. All valve types shall have tabs to prevent complete valve closure. (b) (c) Valve trays shall not be used in fouling or highly corrosive services. Acceptable standard valve types and their respective suppliers are as follows:

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(1) (2) (3) (4)

GV-1 (standard), GV-4, and A-2 valves from Glitsch. BDH (rectangular) valves from Nutter. Type A (standard) and Type T (caged) valves from Koch. L (USA) or MR2L (UK) valves (standard) and Type G (caged-USA) or caged MR2 (UK) valves from Norton.

Alternate valve types may be acceptable subject to Mobil approval. (d) The density of the active valves on the trays shall fall within the following ranges: (1) (2) Glitsch, Koch, and Norton valves 75 to 161 units/m2 (7 to 15 units/ft2) of bubbling area. Nutter half size 64.5 to 124 units/m2 (6 to 11.5 units/ft2) of bubbling area.

(e) Although mixing valve weights on a single tray is acceptable, the supplier shall not specify trays that utilize both valves and sieve holes or mixed valve types on a single tray. (f) When stipulated by Mobil, excess valve area shall be covered with blanking strips secured by bolts to prevent buckling. However, no more than 50 percent of the potential unobstructed valve area may be covered with blanking strips or plates. The blanking arrangement shall be specified in the TOWER DESIGN PACKAGE. Alternative methods may be offered (such as rectangular bubbling areas, which may be permissible if the tray has low jet flood), subject to Mobil approval. Blanking by the supplier shall minimize waste area, which is defined as any area more than 89 mm (31/2 in.) away from the edge of an active element. If waste area is incurred, tray bubbling area shall be adjusted accordingly. To prevent liquid channeling, the supplier shall either blank two rows at a time and leave one row open or blank one row at a time and leave two rows open as the blanking pattern progresses across the tray. Depending on which method the supplier chooses, the blanking pattern shall begin with either the second or third row adjacent to the outlet weir and shall be perpendicular to the liquid flow. Alternative methods may be offered, subject to Mobil approval. 3.2.6 Bubble Cap Trays

The FRI type of unslotted cap as shown in Appendix A shall be used. Proprietary bubble caps are acceptable only with Mobil approval. Caps shall be on equilateral triangular centers with the base of the triangle perpendicular to liquid flow and a distance of 25 mm to 45 mm (1 to 13/4 in.) between the outside diameter of the caps (measured along a line between cap centers). 3.2.7 Shed Decks/Disc and Donut Trays (a) The effective tray spacing is defined as the distance from the top of the outlet weir to the bottom of the tray member (either the deck or a beam) of the shed deck or disc and donut tray above which most constricts the vapor flow area. (b) Recessed orifice troughs on the tray outlet are not acceptable.

(c) The use of slotted or notched weirs, perforations or no perforations, sloped design or level design, shall be as per Mobil specifications or subject to Mobil approval.

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3.3 3.3.1

Tower Packing Packing (a) Acceptable packing types shall be specified in the TOWER DESIGN PACKAGE.

(b) The supplier shall clearly state the material thickness of all random, structured, and grid packing 2 3 2 3 offered. For structured packing having a specific surface area of 148 m /m (45 ft /ft ) or less, the minimum material thickness is 0.20 mm (0.008 in.). For structured packing having a specific surface 2 3 2 3 area greater than 148 m /m (45 ft /ft ), the minimum material thickness is 0.15 mm (0.006 in.). (c) Split beds of packing are acceptable. Grid/random packing combinations and beds comprised of two different sized random packings shall have screens to separate the layers. (d) When revamping towers from trays to packing, the existing tray rings and downcomer bolting bars shall be removed to within 13 mm (1/2 in.) of the vessel wall for random and grid packing in towers larger than 1220 mm (4 ft) in diameter. For towers 1220 mm (4 ft) in diameter or smaller and all structured packing installations, existing tray rings and bolting bars shall be removed to within 6 mm (1/4 in.) of the vessel wall. Manholes internal to beds shall be provided with plugs. Depending on tower size, packing size, and criticality of service, certain process nozzles may also require plugs. (e) The diameter of structured packing blocks shall be equal to the tower diameter minus less than one percent of the tower diameter (to compensate for out-of-roundness). All layers shall have wallwiper rings regardless of tower diameter. (f) Single corrugated structured packing sheets shall be provided as filler material. The total thickness of filler sheets provided for each layer shall be at least 1.5 percent of the tower diameter. (g) Random packing shall not be shipped or stored in cardboard boxes. Only waterproof containers are acceptable. 3.3.2 Support Plates (a) When random packing is specified, Mobil proprietary design gratings as shown in Appendix B shall be used as support plates for beds having a depth of 1830 mm (6 ft) or less. For packing heights greater than 1830 mm (6 ft), sinusoidal support plates having an overall open area greater than 100 percent of the tower area are acceptable, and they are preferable in small-diameter towers. The use of grid type packing as random packing supports is not acceptable. When structured packing is specified, the suppliers support plate shall be used subject to Mobil approval. The support plate shall not limit the bed capacity in any way. (b) When sinusoidal support plates are used, the support beams shall be oriented 90 degrees to the sinusoids. Sinusoidal support plates above chimney trays or distributors shall be designed to minimize the interaction between liquid leaving the low points on the support plate and vapor leaving the chimney tray or distributor. (c) Solid beams for support plates shall be located below the support plates. The arrangement of the beams shall not reduce the available cross-sectional area of the packed bed by more than 5 percent. Placement of lattice beams through the entire packed bed is acceptable for random packing only, provided they have at least 70 percent open area. When Mobil standard grating as shown in Appendix B is used, the beam width shall be limited to 102 mm (4 in.).

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3.3.3

Hold-downs (a) Beams for hold-downs shall not interfere with the distribution of liquid into the packed bed. Hold-downs can generally be supported at the vessel wall with clips or hung from the distributor, however, wall attachment is required in services prone to large upsets such as those listed in Paragraph 3.8.3, Item (c). Full 360 degree support rings are not acceptable for hold-down support. (b) Solid beams for hold-downs shall be limited in height to 10 percent of the bed depth or 305 mm (12 in.), whichever is smaller. The maximum beam width shall be 102 mm (4 in.). If wider and/or deeper beams are required, lattice beams shall be used. The arrangement of beams shall not reduce the available cross-sectional area of the packed bed by more than 5 percent. Placement of the lattice beams through the entire packed bed (for random packing only) or above the entire packed bed is acceptable, provided they have at least 70 percent open area. (c) Hold-down grids must not limit the bed capacity in any way. Hold-down grids for structured packing shall be designed so that at least one bar covers each element of packing. The majority of hold-down bars shall be rotated 90 degrees to the top packing elements. The use of embedded major beams in structured packing shall be limited to the top layer only, shall be flat bars without flanges, and shall run parallel to the packing elements. (d) When a spray distributor is specified above the bed, the height of the hold-downs major beams shall not project more than 76 mm (3 in.) above the packing. In addition, the top of the grid element shall be level with the top of the beams. Exception to this may be made only with Mobil approval.

3.3.4

Distribution and Redistribution (a) Liquid distribution shall be achieved with trough distributors, pan distributors, or wide-angle full cone spray nozzle distributors. When spray nozzles are specified, dual filters with mesh size equal to or smaller than one-quarter of the nozzles free passage diameter shall be installed on the liquid feed as close to the tower as practical to prevent nozzle clogging. (b) Liquid distributors and redistributors for packed beds shall be designed as per the TOWER DESIGN PACKAGE and Appendix D or E, whichever is applicable. Mobil will provide detailed designs for all spray nozzle distributors and any gravity flow distributors/redistributors that must meet special liquid rate (e.g. high turndown) requirements. (c) Circular or square spray nozzles are acceptable. If not included in the TOWER DESIGN PACKAGE, the supplier shall provide a means of supporting the spray nozzle headers and laterals, subject to Mobil approval. (d) In critical fractionation services as indicated on EGE 12-D-21, redistribution zones shall be designed to provide adequate liquid remixing. Unless otherwise specified in the TOWER DESIGN PACKAGE, the preferred arrangement shall include a collector tray with a central downcomer.

3.3.5

Bed Height (a) Under normal conditions, the bed height shall be limited to 7620 mm (25 ft) or 12 theoretical stages, whichever is less. (b) Changing the bed height from that specified in the TOWER DESIGN PACKAGE is permitted only with Mobil approval. (c) Random packing shall be filled to within one packing diameter of the hold-down grid.

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3.3.6 (a)

Access Manholes shall be placed at every distributor/redistributor location.

(b) A means of access shall be provided through collector trays to allow inspection of distributors/redistributors below. 3.4 Seal Pans, Drawoff Boxes, and Chimney Trays

3.4.1 Stiffening ribs shall be located on the underside of seal pans. Any stiffening ribs on the bottom panels of the downcomers shall not interfere with the seal pan escape area. 3.4.2 Drawoff pans and boxes and seal pans that may entrap liquid when the tower is brought offstream shall be provided with one weep hole for every 0.42 m2 (4.5 ft2) of area, with a minimum of one weep hole. In cases of total drawoff, process considerations may preclude the use of weep holes. In such cases, provision shall be made for adequate drainage by positioning nozzles flush with the bottom of the drawoff pan or box. Weep holes shall be 13 mm (1/2 in.) in diameter in clean service and 19 mm (3/4 in.) in fouling service. Except for cases where inlet weirs are used [Paragraph 3.2.3, Item (c)], the segmental area at the bottom of downcomers is considered to be free draining, and weep holes shall not be used. 3.4.3 Chimney Trays (a) De-entrainment The Mobil proprietary design de-entrainment chimney tray shall be utilized in vacuum towers in refining service. The tray shall be located between the flash zone and the wash section. Mobil will provide detailed sketches showing the tray configuration. (b) V-hat V-hat chimney trays shall be installed below packed sections to allow liquid withdrawal from the tower or to effect a transition to or from fractionating trays. Mobil will provide detailed sketches showing the V-hat chimney tray configurations. 3.5 Mist Eliminators

3.5.1 When specified, mist eliminators shall be attached to a continuous support ring having the dimensions shown in Table 2 of Paragraph 3.7.3. 3.5.2 Pad thickness, wire size, and model type or pad density shall be as specified in the TOWER DESIGN PACKAGE. Carbon steel and polypropylene wire pads are not acceptable unless specified in the TOWER DESIGN PACKAGE. 3.5.3 The mist eliminator shall be sized and fabricated in a minimum number of subassemblies for installation through a vessel manhole. 3.5.4 The mist eliminator shall be tight, with no gaps between sections of wire pads and shell.

3.5.5 The supplier is responsible for the design and mechanical integrity of the pad assembly and shall specify on the drawings and proposals the size, location, and number of any major beams that may be required. 3.5.6 Supplier standard mist eliminator support grids may be used unless otherwise specified in the design package. These grids shall be of a rigid construction with 6 mm (1/4 in.) spacer rods welded to the top and bottom grids, spaced every 610 mm (24. in.). The grids must be completely banded on all sections.

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3.5.7 In vacuum towers and vessels upstream of a compressor where a mist eliminator has been specified, a wire mesh screen shall be required between the wire pad and top grid as shown in Figure 1 of Appendix C. As a minimum, the top grating shall be 6 mm (1/4 in.) thick by 25 mm (1 in.) flat bars on 102 mm (4 in.) centers with 6 mm (1/4 in.) diameter rods perpendicular to the flat bars on 102 mm (4 in.) center-to-center spacing. This requirement may be needed in other services, and if so, shall be specified in the TOWER DESIGN PACKAGE. 3.5.8 Tray clamps with either 6 mm (1/4 in.) diameter J-bolts or bolts welded to the bottom grid shall be required to attach the mist eliminator pad to the vessel support ring as shown in Figure 2 of Appendix C. The use of tie-wire as a support hardware is not permitted. 3.6 Arrangement of Tower Internals

3.6.1 To ensure optimum fractionation and/or heat removal, the arrangement of tower internals, such as trays, packed sections, accumulator trays, and liquid distribution devices, shall take precedence over the location of external piping connections, vapor return lines, or internal structural supports. Rotation of tower internals with respect to each other is permissible, subject to Mobil approval. 3.6.2 When the number of tray passes in a tower changes, such as from 1-pass to 2-pass or from 2-pass to 4-pass, the transition tray design shall be as provided in accordance with the TOWER DESIGN PACKAGE. Alternative designs, including those involving changes in tray orientation, are acceptable only with Mobil approval. 3.6.3 A Mobil-designed flashbox shall be provided in accordance with the TOWER DESIGN PACKAGE for flashing feeds and reboiler returns having a vapor content greater than 10 percent by volume. For foaming systems (foaming factor $ 1.3), this criteria is reduced to 5 percent by volume. All vapor-feed designs shall be used for streams containing less than 1 percent liquid by volume. 3.7 3.7.1 Tray Mechanical Design Considerations Tray diameters shall be in accordance with Table 1.

3.7.2 Allowable stresses for all tray parts and support members shall not exceed one-third of the ultimate tensile strength, two-thirds of the yield strength, or that stress which corresponds to a creep rate of one percent in 10,000 hours, whichever is lowest. For operating conditions, all stresses shall be taken at the design metal temperature of the part. For cleanout conditions, all stresses shall be taken at ambient temperature.
TABLE 1 TRAY DIAMETERS Tower Inside Diameter mm Under 1065 1065 to 2130 >2130 to 3050 >3050 to 3960 Over 3960 (ft & in.) Under 3 6" 3 6" to 7 0" >7 0" to 10 0" >10 0" to 13 0" Over 13 0" Tray Diameter = Vessel ID Minus: mm 25 38 50 65 75 (in.) 1 11/2 2 21/2 3

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3.7.3 (a)

Internals for tray towers shall confrom to the following: Trays and Tray Supports (1) Maximum calculated deflection for the active panels at operating temperature in the corroded condition, based on a uniform live load of 1435 kPa (30 lb/ft2) plus the dead load of the tray, shall be 3 mm (1/8 in.) for tray diameters up to 3050 mm (120 in.), 5 mm (3/16 in.) for diameters from 3051 mm to 6100 mm (240 in.), and 6 mm (1/4 in.) for larger diameters. For the tray inlet areas, these maximum deflections shall be met at a uniform live load of 3110 kPa (65 lb/ft2) plus the dead load of the tray. (2) The tray shall withstand the live and dead loads given in Item 1 above without exceeding metal allowable stress at design temperature. (3) The tray shall withstand a maintenance load of 115 kg (250 lb) concentrated on an area of .09 m2 (1 ft2) at the weakest point without exceeding metal allowable stress at ambient temperature in the corroded condition. (4) In crude oil atmospheric and vacuum towers 1830 mm (6 ft) in diameter and larger, the bottom five trays above the flash zone and all of the trays in the stripping zone shall be stiffened with at least one transverse support beam to protect the trays from minor upsets during startup. This requirement also applies to all vacuum side stripper trays and the baffle trays in FCC and coker main columns. These trays (for all diameters) shall be designed for a load of 14.4 kPa (300 lb/ft2) upward or downward, as appropriate, without exceeding metal allowable stress, in addition to the normal requirements described above. Details shall be submitted to Mobil for approval. (5) Tray support rings shall not extend into the segmental downcomer area adjacent to the outlet weir. They shall be fabricated to the dimensions shown in Table 2. (6) For corrosion allowance, minimum thickness, material, and method of attaching tray support rings and other bars welded to the shell, see EGE 12-B-1 and EGE 12-D-21A. (7) Tray support beams or trusses shall be provided where required to meet the design conditions given above. Main support beams and trusses may be located parallel or perpendicular to the liquid flow, but the number of beams parallel to the liquid flow shall be kept to a minimum. The depth of support beams shall be limited to permit passage of workers on the tray [nominally requires 356 mm (14 in.) of space above the tray deck]. When used, lattice beams shall have a minimum open area of 70 percent. Depth of beams of nonlattice construction shall not exceed 20 percent of the tray spacing if perpendicular to the liquid flow or 30 percent of the tray spacing if parallel to the liquid flow so that tray action will not be impaired. Support beams may extend through downcomers only with Mobil approval. (8) Tray support beams or trusses or other internals fabricated in a manner that may entrap liquid when the tower is brought offstream shall be provided with weep holes. See Paragraph 3.4.2 for requirements. (b) Seal Pans, Drawoff Boxes, Draw Trays, and Their Supports

Maximum calculated deflection at operating temperature in the corroded condition shall be 6 mm (1/4 in.), based on the dead load of the metal plus a uniform live load equal to the weight of water at the maximum operating liquid level. If downcomers are present, the maximum operating liquid level for load calculation purposes is equal to the height of the overflow weir plus 51 mm (2 in.). If no downcomers or overflow weirs are present, the maximum liquid level is equal to the height of the risers plus 51 mm (2 in.). In addition, metal allowable stress at operating temperature shall not be exceeded.

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TABLE 2 TRAY SUPPORT RINGS Tower Inside Diameter mm Under 915 915 to 1830 >1830 to 3050 Over 3050 (ft & in.) Under 3 0" 3 0" to 6 0" >6 0" to 10 0" Over 10 0" mm 38 50 65 75 Width (in.) 11/2 2 21/2 3

3.7.4 Suitable stiffening for downcomers shall be provided for large flat areas where widths are greater than 400 mm (16 in.). In services prone to large upsets, such as those listed in Paragraph 3.8.3, Item (c), the lowest downcomer apron section shall be provided with approximately a 13 mm (1/2 in.) wide 90 degree flange at its foot for stiffness. This flange must be designed as to not impede the downcomer discharge area or inlet sump. Where possible, all flanges on downcomers shall be on the outside of the downcomer. Intermediate braces shall be provided at the foot of downcomer panels so that the maximum unsupported span will not exceed 915 mm (36 in.). 3.7.5 Chimney trays, draw pans, and draw boxes shall be of bolted construction without gasketing and shall be seal welded. The number of bolts, clamps, and the like shall be minimized. Only a sufficient quantity shall be used to hold tray pieces in place while the seal welding is being done. When required, bolted and gasketed construction shall be specified in the TOWER DESIGN PACKAGE. Weep holes shall not be provided unless specified. 3.7.6 Means of Access and Assembly (a) Provision shall be made for assembly, disassembly, and internal access through the tower by means of tray manways in vertical alignment. Generally, trays shall be designed for assembly from above. Trays designed for both top and bottom assembly, or for only bottom assembly, are permissible with Mobil approval. (b) All tray sections and internals, including flanged piping, shall be sized to pass through tower manholes. (c) A minimum of one tray manway per tray pass shall be provided unless additional manways are needed for access and assembly. Minimum manway dimensions shall be 356 mm x 406 mm (14 in. x 16 in.), unless otherwise approved by Mobil. The manways shall be capable of being opened from both above and below. 3.7.7 Tray and Internal Bolting (a) Tray sections shall be fastened to the support ring and support beams with frictional tray clamps. J-bolts are not acceptable. Through-bolting may be specified in certain circumstances. The minimum size of carbon steel or alloy bolts permitted is 10 mm (3/8 in.). Spacing of clamps and bolts shall be close enough to ensure tight construction. The supplier shall specify the required bolt torque on the drawings.

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(b) Internal distributor flange joint integrity shall be maintained with suitable bolting. This can be achieved either by double nutting or with the use of self-locking nuts or stacked threads. The supplier shall show the detail used in his/her drawings. (c) The bottom five trays above the flash zone and all trays in the stripping zone of crude oil atmospheric and vacuum towers shall be attached to the tray support rings by heavy-duty clips on spacing not exceeding 75 mm (3 in.). This requirement also applies to the baffle trays in FCC and coker main columns. Tray panels shall be attached to each other by through bolting. The washer size on the tray side of bolts shall be selected to increase hold-down. (d) Trays having liquid loads less than 17.88 m3/h-m (2 gpm/in.) of chordal weir length, where minimizing leakage is critical to the trays performance, shall be attached to the tray support rings as described in Paragraph 3.7.7, Item (c). 3.8 Packed Section Mechanical Design Considerations

3.8.1 Packing support plate rings shall be fabricated to the same dimensions as listed in Table 2 of Paragraph 3.7.3 for tray support rings. For vessels smaller than 915 mm (36 in.) in diameter, clips shall be used instead of support rings for sinusoidal support plates. 3.8.2 The supplier shall certify that the packing elements will not deform or crush at the maximum process or shutdown temperatures and loadings (dead load of the bed plus the static holdup, which is 4 percent of the packing volume). 3.8.3 Packing support plates and hold-down grids shall be designed so that, when fully assembled, they shall meet the following conditions: (a) Packing Supports (1) For structured packing supports only, the maximum calculated deflection at operating temperature in the corroded condition, based on the dead load of the packing plus the static holdup (four percent of the packing volume), shall be 3 mm (1/8 in.) for tower diameters up to 3050 mm (120 in.), 5 mm (3/16 in.) for diameters from 3051 mm to 6100 mm (240 in.), and 6 mm (1/4 in.) for larger diameters. (2) For both random and structured packing, the supports shall withstand the loads given in Item (a) (1) above without exceeding metal allowable stress at operating temperature. (3) In fouling services, suitable allowance for foulant weight shall be made in the calculations for Item (a) (1) above and shall be documented in the suppliers proposal. (b) Hold-down Grids (1) Main members of the hold-down grid shall withstand a maintenance load of 115 kg (250 lb) concentrated on an area of .09 m2 (1 ft2) at the weakest point without exceeding metal allowable stress at ambient temperature in the corroded condition. (2) Standard supplier hold-down grids, subject to Mobil approval, are acceptable in most applications provided they are designed for at least 1915 Pa (40 lb/ft2) uplift resistance at operating temperature. (c) Other Packed Tower Internals

The following special uplift resistance shall be met for the applications indicated:

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Uplift Application Vacuum tower wash bed hold-down grids Vacuum tower side stripper hold-down grids Vacuum tower de-entrainment tray above flash zone Atmospheric crude tower wash bed hold-down grids FCC main column quench bed hold-down grids Pa 8853 8853 8853 6891 6891 (lb/ft2) 185 185 185 144 144

NOTE: Additional applications may arise where special uplift resistance is required and will be so indicated in the TOWER DESIGN PACKAGE.

3.8.4 Allowable stresses for all support and grid members shall not exceed one-third of the ultimate tensile strength, two-thirds of the yield strength, or that stress which corresponds to a creep rate of one percent in 10,000 hours, whichever is lowest. For operating conditions, all stresses shall be taken at the design metal temperature of the part. For cleanout conditions, all stresses shall be taken at ambient temperature. 3.8.5 The maximum deflection of spray nozzle laterals shall not exceed 13 mm (1/2 in.). The supports for the spray nozzle headers and laterals shall not introduce a moment arm on the laterals or the main inlet flange into the tower. 4. MATERIALS 4.1 Alloy Steel

Unless specified otherwise on EGE 12-D-21A/B, the following AISI materials shall be used (gage thickness is US standard gage):
(a) Trays (including baffles, chimney trays, drawoff boxes, downcomers, and seal pans). (b) Valve assemblies or bubble caps. (c) Weirs. (d) Support beams. (e) Tray bolting. 12 Cr (Type 410S or Type 405*); 2 mm (14 gage) minimum. 12 Cr (Type 410S or Type 405*); 1.5 mm (16 gage) minimum. 12 Cr (Type 410S or Type 405*); 1.5 mm (16 gage) minimum. 12 Cr (Type 410S or Type 405*); 2 mm (14 gage) minimum. 12 Cr bolts and nuts, material as in (a). Bolts and nuts shall be specified with sufficiently different hardnesses (35 Brinell hardness points or greater) to prevent galling. 12 Cr (Type 410S or Type 405*); 3.5 mm (10 gage) minimum. 12 Cr (Type 410S or Type 405*); 3 mm (12 gage) minimum for pan type, 2 mm (14 gage) minimum for trough type. 12 Cr (Type 410). Supplier to specify and report thickness that will assure packing will not deform under normal operating conditions.

(f)

Flashboxes.

(g) Liquid distributors.

(h) Packing.

* Type 405 is not acceptable above 343C (650F). When 300 Series stainless steels are specified, the above minimum thicknesses still apply.

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4.2

Carbon Steel

When carbon steel internals are specified, the following AISI or ASTM materials shall be used unless otherwise indicated on EGE 12-D-21A/B:
(a) Trays, weirs, or bubble caps. (b) Valve assemblies. A283 Grade C; A414 Grade C; or A570 Grade 33; 3 mm (12 gage) minimum. 12 Cr (Type 410S or Type 405*); 2 mm (14 gage) minimum. Type 405 is not acceptable above 343C (650F). A36 or A283 Grade C; 6 mm (1/4 in.) minimum. Carbon steel material or 12 Cr bolts and nuts as in Paragraph 4.1, Item (e). Carbon steel is acceptable for packing/distributors only when specified in the TOWER DESIGN PACKAGE.

(c) Support beams. (d) Tray bolting. (e) Packing and distributors.

4.3

Monel

When Monel internals are specified, the following ASTM materials shall be used unless otherwise indicated on EGE 12-D-21A/B:
(a) Trays. (b) Valve assemblies or bubble caps. (c) Weirs. (d) Support beams. (e) Tray bolting. (f) Packing and distributors. B127, 2 mm (14 gage) minimum. B127, 2 mm (14 gage) minimum. B127, 1.5 mm (16 gage) minimum. B127 or B164 Class A; 2 mm (14 gage) minimum. B164 Class A or Class B. B127. Supplier to specify and report thickness that will assure packing/distributors will not deform under normal operating conditions.

4.4

Gasketing

Gasketing shall be glass tape (Amatex Corporation Style G36P752 or equivalent). In HF service, gasketing is not permitted unless approved by Mobil. 5. TOLERANCES 5.1 The maximum elevation difference on tray decks shall be 2.5 mm/m (1/32 in./ft) of diameter, with a limit of 6 mm (1/4 in.) for vessels over 2438 mm (96 in.) in diameter. 5.2 Tolerance on tray diameters shall be plus zero, minus 6 mm (1/4 in.) for vessels up to 2130 mm (84 in.) in diameter and plus zero, minus 13 mm (1/2 in.) for larger vessels.

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5.3 Clearance between the lower edge of downcomers and seal pan floor shall not vary from that specified by more than 3 mm (1/8 in.). 5.4 Clearance between the bottom of a spray nozzle and the top of a packed bed shall not vary from that specified by more than 13 mm (1/2 in.). The top of the packed bed is defined as the top of the hold-down grid. 5.5 The height of the outlet weir above the tray floor shall not vary from that specified by more than 3 mm (1/8 in.). The difference in outlet weir height from high point to low point shall not exceed 3 mm (1/8 in.), and the relative difference between the specified downcomer clearance and the outlet weir height shall be maintained. 5.6 Packed bed liquid distributor levelness tolerances are included in Appendices D and E.

6. FABRICATION AND ASSEMBLY 6.1 Parts shall be fabricated smooth, true, clean, and free of creases, burrs, and dents. Spacing of clamps and bolts shall be close enough to ensure good contact between parts and tight construction. Exposed edges of access openings shall be free from burrs. 6.2 All independent beams shall be fabricated with slotted bolt holes to ease installation and to allow for thermal expansion. 6.3 Only (150 lb) raised-face weldneck or slip-on flanges with gaskets shall be used for internal piping connections. Slip-on flanges are preferred, and at least one end of the pipe must have a slip-on flange to facilitate installation. Nonstandard plate flanges are not acceptable on internal piping connections unless approved by Mobil. 6.4 Sieve trays shall be installed with the sharp side of the perforations facing downward, unless noted otherwise in the TOWER DESIGN PACKAGE. 6.5 All parts shall be piece marked for assembly purposes, and these markings shall match those on the drawings. 6.6 When installing and leveling packing, workers shall not stand directly on the packing. Plywood (or similar rigid material) having an area equal to or greater than 0.4 m2 (4 ft2) shall be used to stand on. 6.7 During the installation of structured packing, filler sheets shall be utilized to limit the gap at the wall for each layer to less than 13 mm (1/2 in.). Wall wipers shall touch the vessel wall. No other gaps in the packing shall be allowed, and a note indicating such shall be included on the supplier's installation drawings. 7. INSPECTION AND FIELD TESTING 7.1 Trays and auxiliaries shall be carefully inspected by the supplier to ensure that they are in accordance with the TOWER DESIGN PACKAGE, EGE 12-D-21A/B, this Guide, and the supplier's standard of quality and fabrication practice. A complete tray of each type (i.e., chimney trays with and without drawoff sumps, flashboxes, and odd and even trays for multiple pass trays) must be assembled at the supplier's shop for fit-up and inspection by a Mobil representative. Furthermore, trays and auxiliaries shall be subject to Mobil inspection to ensure that they have not been damaged during delivery or assembly and that installation is in accordance with this Guide and the project specifications.

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7.2 All tower internals including trays and packing shall be inspected post-installation to ensure that all tolerances as defined in Section 5 of this Guide have been met. 7.3 Valve trays shall be carefully inspected by the supplier to ensure that valve legs are properly positioned to prevent the valves from coming loose. 7.4 Drawoff pans, draw trays, and draw boxes shall be tested for leakage after installation by temporarily plugging the weep holes and filling with water. Since drawoff pans, draw trays, and draw boxes normally will be seal welded (see Paragraph 3.7.5), these should show no leakage. For draw pans, trays, or boxes designated or approved by Mobil to be bolted and gasketed only, the drop in water level shall not exceed 25 mm (1 in.) in five minutes. 7.5 The chloride content of the water used for leak testing, spray header testing, etc. shall not exceed 50 ppm. 7.6 Bubble cap trays in vacuum crude service shall be field tested for leakage by temporarily plugging the weep holes or slots and filling with water to the level of the weir or riser. The drop in water level shall not exceed 25 mm (1 in.) in ten minutes. 7.7 Spray nozzle distributors shall be tested with water after installation in the tower at the intended pressure of operation, adjusted for density. All spray nozzles shall be checked to ensure that they are passing liquid and that none of the spray nozzles or flanges are leaking.

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EGE 12-B-21 1995

APPENDIX A FRI BUBBLE CAP

*1 in. = 25.4 mm

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APPENDIX B STANDARD RANDOM PACKING SUPPORT PLATE FOR BED DEPTHS EQUAL TO OR LESS THAN 1830 mm (6 ft)

*1 in. = 25.4 mm

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APPENDIX C MIST ELIMINATOR ASSEMBLY

*1 in. = 25.4 mm

FIGURE 1 VACUUM SERVICES AND COMPRESSOR SUCTION VESSEL APPLICATIONS (or Other Specified Critical Applications)

*1 in. = 25.4 mm

FIGURE 2 ALL OTHER SERVICES

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APPENDIX D HIGH LIQUID RATE GRAVITY DISTRIBUTOR SPECIFICATIONS D-1. SCOPE

This Appendix provides general design and performance specifications for the suppliers adherence when completing the detailed designs of gravity flow liquid distributors/redistributors (trough, orifice pan, or plate types) for liquid rates above 12.2 m 3/h-m2 (5 gpm/ft2 ). Modifications to the specifications contained within this Appendix are permitted only with the prior approval of an MTC applied process technology specialist. D-2. GENERAL

Design liquid rates shall be as provided by Mobil in the project specifications. Definition of the type of fractionating service (critical or noncritical) shall be as defined by Mobil and indicated on EGE 12-D-21B. The design specifications contained within this Appendix include minimum acceptable design features. The supplier may exceed these design features, if necessary, to yield the design performance which is cited in Paragraph D-4. All supplier prefabrication drawings shall be submitted to MTC applied process technology specialists for approval and review. The supplier agrees to incorporate all changes requested by MTC. MTC points of review will include, but not be limited to, all items contained herein. D-3. DEFINITIONS

Concentric Circle Analysis A circle is drawn concentric to the tower shell on a plan view of the final distribution elements. The pour point density on either side of the circle shall not be more or less than the average pour point density by the prescribed amount. For critical fractionation services, this analysis will usually be done on the area 152 mm (6 in.) from the vessel wall. For noncritical fractionation services, this analysis shall be done on the area 229 mm (9 in.) from the vessel wall. For any tower less than 0.9 m (3 ft) in diameter, contact a MTC applied process technology specialist to determine where the concentric circle should be drawn. Points which fall near or on the circle shall be divided between the two areas. Coefficient of Variation (Cv) The ratio of sample standard deviation to sample mean, expressed as a percentage.
D-4. DISTRIBUTOR PERFORMANCE AND DISTRIBUTION ELEMENT LAYOUT

D-4.1 The distributor shall have a minimum of 64.5 distribution points/m2 (6 points/ft2) for heat transfer services and noncritical fractionation. For critical fractionation services, the distributor shall have a minimum of 97 distribution points/m2 (9 points/ft2). All points are to be evenly distributed over the cross-section of the tower. A concentric circle analysis shall show less than 3 percent difference in hole densities over various areas of the tower for heat transfer or noncritical fractionation services. For critical fractionation services, this limit is reduced to 2 percent. It may be necessary to notch or drill the support ring to meet the above

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criteria of uniform hole densities across the tower area. Notching will always be preferred to drilling holes in the support ring. D-4.2 The distributor must be able to completely drain on unit shutdown. The draining mechanism shall not affect the performance of the distributor. Measurements to determine if the distributor meets the required performance shall be taken from locations which are not affected by the draining mechanism. However, measurements of drain point flowrates may be included by Mobil during flow testing, and modifications may be requested if deemed necessary. D-4.3 A sampling of at least 40 of the distribution points (to be specified by MTC) shall have a maximum Cv of 7.5 percent at design rates and 10 percent at turndown rates. The supplier shall demonstrate the performance by post-fabrication water testing the complete distributor and predistributor per Appendix F with a qualified Mobil representative in attendance. D-4.4 A sampling of rectangular areas of 0.2 m2 (2 ft2 ) shall have a maximum deviation from the average of 4 percent at design rates and 6 percent at turndown rates for critical fractionation services. For heat transfer services and noncritical fractionation services, these area samples shall have a maximum deviation from the average of 7.5 percent at design rates. No turndown test is required for heat transfer or noncritical fractionation services. The number of samples shall be set by the nearest integer equal to the area of the tower (in ft2) divided by seven, with a maximum of 20 and a minimum of 4. Sample locations shall be determined by a qualified Mobil representative. At the supplier's option, adjacent individual point measurements may be averaged and used in place of the area samples. In this case, the number of adjacent points must correspond to the number contained in a 0.2 m2 (2 ft2) area. For trough type distributors without trough equalization tubes, the total parting box flow to each trough shall have a maximum deviation from the average of 4 percent at design rates and 6 percent at turndown rates. D-4.5 D-5. D-5.1 (a) (b) (c) (d) Splashing and leakage shall not exceed 0.5 percent of the liquid flowrate. TROUGH DESIGN LAYOUT SPECIFICATIONS Acceptable final distribution elements are: Holes in the bottom of the troughs. Slots in the side of the troughs. Holes in the side of the troughs. Tubes from the side or bottom of the troughs.

V-notches are not acceptable final distribution elements. Other types of distribution elements are acceptable with prior MTC approval. D-5.2 The distributor shall have a perforated pipe predistributor (T-type or H-type; other types permissible with prior MTC approval) with the hole area sized for less

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than 7.5 percent maldistribution. The pipe predistributor shall have a vertical guide tube [minimum 152 mm (6 in.) long] leading into the parting box below each hole. The guide tube must be long enough to provide a 25 mm ( 1 in.) liquid seal at the minimum rate. A minimum clearance of one-half the guide tube diameter above the parting box floor is required. If there is feed flashing, the supplier shall incorporate design modifications to ensure that the parting box is fed a clear liquid. D-5.3 The parting box shall have a minimum 102 mm (4 in.) safety factor in height above the liquid level at design rates. [For severely foaming systems such as caustic scrubbers and amine absorbers and regenerators, use a 152 mm (6 in.) minimum height safety factor.] The parting box is to meter flow to each trough depending on the number of final distribution elements in the trough. This metering is accomplished by round holes or square slots in the bottom of the parting box or by notches in the side of the parting box. Additional types of parting box metering are acceptable with prior MTC approval. D-5.4 Splashing and turbulence [including that generated by excessive fall heights, i.e., greater than 254 mm (10 in.)] shall be minimized by the use of baffles/perforated plates/expanded metal. D-5.5 Troughs shall have a minimum 76 mm (3 in.) height safety factor at design rates. This minimum height requirement shall be increased to 127 mm (5 in.) in the case of severely foaming systems. D-5.6 The minimum total free area between troughs for vapor flow is 35 percent of the tower cross-sectional area. If the troughs use slots or holes which discharge to the side, the minimum free area between the troughs is 45 percent of the tower area. Side discharge slots or holes are to have liquid guide tubes in critical fractionation services. The maximum vapor F factor through the trough free area shall not exceed 3.5 English units. D-5.7 Only a single or an even number of parting boxes with symmetrical inlet piping are acceptable. One parting box is acceptable up to a tower diameter of 3.6 m (12 ft). A two parting box design is acceptable up to a 7.3 m (24 ft) tower diameter. Four parting boxes are to be used in towers exceeding 7.3 m (24 ft) diameter. D-5.8 The recommended design clear liquid head in the troughs is at least 102 to 152 mm (4 to 6 in.). The minimum acceptable liquid head at turndown rates is 51 mm (2 in.) or 4 times the diameter of the orifice, whichever is greater. The minimum acceptable slot width is 3 mm (1/8 in.) for normal slot types. The minimum acceptable hole size is 6 mm (1/4 in.) for clean service; 13 mm (1/2 in.) for dirty service. If the hole size is less than 13 mm (1/2 in.) or the service is dirty, the supplier shall suggest alternate means to avoid trough orifice fouling such as the use of raised orifices or strainers with a mesh size equal to one-half of the orifice size on the feed liquid stream or inside the troughs to catch solids. Only triangular equilateral (preferred) or square pitch is acceptable. All orifices must be consistently punched, either in or out with respect to liquid flow. D-5.9 For heat transfer sections and noncritical fractionation, resting the troughs on a full circumference support ring and leveling as required by the use of shims is adequate if the supplier guarantees that the above cited performance levels can be

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met. For critical fractionation services, individual trough leveling by the use of leveling bolts should be incorporated. D-6. ORIFICE PAN AND PLATE TYPE DISTRIBUTOR/REDISTRIBUTOR LAYOUT SPECIFICATIONS

D-6.1 Orifice holes are currently the only acceptable final distribution elements. Other types of distribution elements such as slotted or notched drip tubes are acceptable with prior MTC approval and if the supplier provides reliable flow versus liquid head data for the elements. D-6.2 The distributor orifice pan or plate shall have a predistributor. The predistributor design shall also be submitted to MTC applied process technology specialists for approval. The predistributor design shall avoid any liquid gradients or liquid turbulence on the orifice pan or plate deck, and must accommodate any feed flashing if it occurs. D-6.3 The pan or plate vapor risers shall have a minimum 102 mm (4 in.) safety factor in height above the liquid level at the maximum rates for nonfoaming systems. For severely foaming systems, the vapor riser height shall be two times the liquid level at the maximum rates. For moderately foaming systems, the vapor riser height can be adjusted in consultation with MTC applied process technology specialists. For redistributors, the vapor risers are to have hats to prevent liquid from the bed above from bypassing the redistributor. The hats shall be placed to provide a vapor escape area equal to the riser area. Vapor contact with the collected liquid from the hat should be avoided as much as possible. Orifice pan redistributors will also require a wall wiper around the periphery of the tower to prevent liquid from above from bypassing the redistributor. D-6.4 Splashing and turbulence [including that generated by excessive fall heights, i.e., greater than 254 mm (10 in.)] shall be minimized by the use of baffles/perforated plates/expanded metal. D-6.5 The minimum free area for vapor flow through the risers and side openings shall be 20 percent of the tower cross-sectional area. The maximum vapor F factor through the risers and side openings shall be 4.0 English units. D-6.6 If a parting box/trough arrangement is used for predistribution, only a single or even number of parting boxes with symmetrical (T- or H-type) inlet piping are acceptable. D-6.7 The recommended design clear liquid head is at least 102 to 152 mm (4 to 6 in.). The minimum acceptable liquid head at turndown rates is 51 mm (2 in.) or 4 times the diameter of the orifice, whichever is greater. The minimum acceptable hole size is 6 mm (1/4 in.) for clean service and 13 mm (1/2 in.) for dirty service. If the hole size is less than 13 mm (1/2 in.) or the service is dirty, the supplier shall suggest alternate means to avoid pan orifice fouling such as the use of raised orifices, or strainers with mesh size equal to one-half of the orifice size on the feed liquid stream or inside the pan to catch solids. The pan or plate is to use lap joints or other means of connection which do not create obstructions to liquid flow across the pan. Only triangular equilateral (preferred) or square pitch is acceptable, although the pitch can

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be altered slightly to clear pan joints. All orifices must be consistently punched either up or down. D-6.8 The minimum pan material thickness is gage 12. All joints and junctures of the pan shall be seal welded. Carbon steel distributors are not recommended. Final material selection must give consideration to avoiding corrosion and erosion of the discharge element. D-7. LEVELING TOLERANCES

D-7.1 All individual troughs, parting boxes, and distributor pan/plates shall be designed and fabricated with easily adjustable leveling assemblies attached to a support ring or major beam. Other supplier leveling schemes require prior MTC applied process technology specialist approval. D-7.2 For critical fractionation services, the maximum tolerance for levelness is 3 mm (1/8 in.) from the lowest to the highest point on each individual trough, distributor pan/plate, or parting box. D-7.3 For heat transfer and noncritical fractionation services, adjustable leveling assemblies may not be required if the supplier guarantees that the previously cited performance specifications can be obtained with a full circumference support ring. D-7.4 The maximum deflection at operating conditions shall not exceed the leveling tolerances.

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APPENDIX E LOW LIQUID RATE GRAVITY DISTRIBUTOR SPECIFICATIONS E-1. SCOPE

This Appendix provides general design and performance specifications for the suppliers adherence when completing the detailed designs of gravity flow liquid distributors/redistributors (orifice pan or plate types) for liquid rates below 12.2 m 3/h-m2 (5 gpm/ft2 ). Modifications to the specifications contained within this Appendix are permitted only with the prior approval of an MTC applied process technology specialist. E-2. GENERAL

Design liquid rates shall be as provided by Mobil in the project specifications. The design specifications contained within this Appendix include minimum acceptable design features. The supplier may exceed these design features, if necessary, to yield the design performance which is cited in Paragraph E-4. All supplier prefabrication drawings shall be submitted to MTC applied process technology specialists for approval and review. The supplier agrees to incorporate all changes requested by MTC. MTC points of review will include, but not be limited to, all items contained herein. E-3. DEFINITIONS

(a) Concentric Circle Analysis A circle is drawn concentric to the tower shell on a plan view of the final distribution elements. The pour point density on either side of the circle shall not be more or less than the average pour point density by the prescribed amount. This analysis shall be done on the area 299 mm (9 in.) from the vessel wall. If the tower is less than 0.9 m (3 ft) in diameter, however, contact an MTC applied process technology specialist to determine where the concentric circle should be drawn. Points which fall near or on the circle shall be divided between the two areas. (b) Coefficient of Variation (Cv) The ratio of sample standard deviation to sample mean, expressed as a percentage. E-4. DISTRIBUTOR PERFORMANCE AND DISTRIBUTION ELEMENT LAYOUT

E-4.1 The distributor shall have a minimum of 64.5 distribution points/m2 (6 points/ft2). All points are to be evenly distributed over the cross section of the tower. A concentric circle analysis shall show less than 2 percent difference in hole densities over various areas of the tower. E-4.2 The distributor must be able to completely drain on unit shutdown. The draining mechanism shall not affect the performance of the distributor. Measurements to determine if the distributor meets the required performance shall be taken from locations which are not affected by the draining mechanism. However, measurements of drain point flowrates may be included by Mobil during flow testing, and modifications may be requested if deemed necessary.

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E-4.3 A sampling of at least 40 of the distribution points (to be specified by MTC) shall have a maximum Cv of 10 percent at design rates and 15 percent at turndown rates. The supplier shall demonstrate the performance by post-fabrication water testing the complete distributor and predistributor per Appendix F with a qualified Mobil representative in attendance. E-4.4 A sampling of rectangular areas of 0.2 m2 (2 ft ) shall have a maximum Cv of 3.5 percent at design rates and 5 percent at turndown rates. The number of samples shall be set by the nearest integer equal to the area of the tower (in ft2) divided by seven, with a maximum of 20 and a minimum of 4. Sample locations shall be determined by a qualified Mobil representative. At the suppliers option, adjacent individual point measurements may be averaged and used in place of the area sample. In this case, the number of adjacent points must correspond to the number contained in a 0.2 m2 (2 ft2) area. E-4.5 E-5. Splashing and leakage shall not exceed 0.5 percent of the liquid flowrate. DESIGN AND REVIEW REQUIREMENTS
2

E-5.1 The supplier must provide reliable flow versus liquid head data for all distribution elements used. E-5.2 The distributor orifice pan or plate shall have a predistributor. The predistributor design shall also be submitted to MTC applied process technology specialists for approval. The predistributor design shall avoid any liquid gradients or liquid turbulence on the pour pan deck, and must accommodate any feed flashing if it occurs. E-5.3 Splashing and turbulence [including that generated by excessive fall heights, i.e., greater than 254 mm (10 in.)] shall be minimized by the use of baffles/perforated plates/expanded metal. E-5.4 The minimum free area for vapor flow through the risers and side openings shall be 25 percent of the tower cross-sectional area. E-5.5 The minimum acceptable slot width is 3 mm (1/8 in.) for normal slot types. The minimum acceptable hole size is 6 mm (1/4 in.) for clean service and 13 mm (1/2 in.) for dirty service. If the hole size is less than 13 mm (1/2 in.) or the service is dirty, the supplier shall suggest alternate means to avoid orifice fouling such as the use of raised orifices, or strainers with mesh size equal to one-half of the orifice size on the liquid feed stream or inside the pan to catch solids. E-5.6 The minimum pan material thickness is gage 12. All joints and junctures of the pan shall be seal welded. Carbon steel distributors are not recommended. Final material selection must give consideration to avoiding corrosion and erosion of the discharge elements. 6. LEVELING TOLERANCES E-6.1 All individual troughs, parting boxes, and distributor pan/plates shall be designed and fabricated with easily adjustable leveling assemblies attached to a

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support ring or major beam. Other supplier leveling schemes require prior MTC applied process technology specialist approval. E-6.2 The supplier is to specify the maximum tolerance for levelness required to meet performance objectives.

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APPENDIX F DISTRIBUTOR TEST STAND SPECIFICATIONS F-1. SCOPE

This Appendix provides general specifications for the suppliers adherence when performing post-fabrication testing of gravity flow distributors and predistributors. F-2. GENERAL

The supplier shall test a distributors performance by post-fabrication water testing of the complete distributor and predistributor with a qualified Mobil representative in attendance. The entire predistributor/distributor assembly should be set up for the water test. The distributor shall be tested with the actual or a duplicate feed arrangement that will match that of the tower. Actual support hardware such as beams, clamps, and other leveling devices should be used to simulate the support assembly in the column. Design liquid rates shall be as provided by Mobil in the project specifications and will be duplicated with water. F-3. TEST FACILITY REQUIREMENTS

The test facility shall have the following features and be approved by an MTC applied process technology specialist: (a) A flow control system to ensure a constant liquid head and steady metered flow over the test range of liquid rates. (b) A recirculating water system to permit test runs of indeterminate length at constant conditions. The water must contain less than 50 ppm chlorides. (c) A filtering system to remove debris and solids that could plug small orifices.

(d) Sufficient size that would permit testing of the entire distributor. Tests of one-half a distributor can be allowed with Mobils approval. (e) A support structure that will permit mounting and leveling of the distributor without interferences of any kind. The test stand must permit both individual point and multiple point (area sampling) sampling underneath the distributor and allow visual inspection of the liquid flow. Area sampling must not be obstructed by support grids which could cause splashing and invalidate results. F-4. PERFORMANCE TESTING REQUIREMENTS

F-4.1 A qualitative investigation of distributor and predistributor performance shall include: overflow of pan, excessive aeration or splashing, wave formation, discharge angles of the liquid, and turbulence. This can be performed during the quantitative testing and should be done at both maximum flowrates (120 percent of design), design flowrates, and turndown rates.

MOBIL ENGINEERING GUIDE

AUGUST 1995 PAGE 29 OF 30

EGE 12-B-21 1995

F-4.2 Quantitative performance test requirements are as specified in the appropriate distributor specification (either Appendix D or E). If required, any additional tests requested by Mobil will be specified in the TOWER DESIGN PACKAGE. F-4.3 For reliability, each sample taken for the point sample test and area sample test should be repeated at least twice. The minimum sampling time shall be 45 seconds. F-4.4 The data shall be measured on a calibrated weight or volume basis so that the total flow from the distributor can be checked against that indicated by the metering system.

MOBIL ENGINEERING GUIDE EGE 12-B-21 1995

PAGE 30 OF 30 AUGUST 1995

HISTORY OF CHANGE

The history of change contained herein does not constitute a complete listing of revisions and changes made to this document. Only revisions and changes of significant technical content (per sponsor and Steering Committee) are listed. EGE 12-B-21 1995 EGE 12-B-21 1995 supersedes the 1988 version with the following significant technical changes: 1. The Guides contents has been reorganized into a logical format that groups related topics together and allows easier information searches. 2. The Tower Arrangement Drawings (EGE 12-S-1 through EGE 12-S-24) have been deleted. 3. Added new packing section which covers random, structured, and grid packings and associated hardware. 4. Several design guidelines have been updated based on experience and new industry standards. 5. Added liquid distributor and test stand specifications as appendices. 6. Included references to the Mobil tower design package (TDP), which forms the basis for most grass roots and revamped designs.

MOBIL ENGINEERING GUIDE FRACTIONATING TRAY PROCESS DESIGN DATA SHEET

EGE 12-D-21A 1995
Page __ of __ ISSUE 1 2 TOWER: EQUIPMENT NO. SERVICE SECTION Tray No. Tower ID, mm (ft & in.) Tray Type Tray Spacing, mm (in.) No. of Passes Max. Allow. )P/Tray, kPa (psi) Tray Deck Material Downcomer Material Cap or Valve Material CONDITION AT TRAY VAPOR TO TRAY: Temperature, C (F) Pressure, kPa abs (psia) Viscosity, mPa*s (cP) Molecular Weight Density, kg/m (lb/ft ) Rate, K*kg/hr (K*lb/hr) m /s (ft /s)* *At Actual Conditions LIQUID FROM TRAY: Temperature C (F) Molecular Weight Surface Tension, mN/m (dyn/cm) Viscosity, mPas (cP) Density, kg/m (lb/ft ) Rate, K*kg/hr (lb/hr) Hot Liquid, m /h (US gpm) Foaming Factor GENERAL Trays Numbered (Top to Bottom) (Bottom to Top) Capacity at Constant Vapor-to-Liquid Ratio: Percent of Flood Not to Exceed Minimum Loading Trays to Be Effective at % at % of Design Vapor and Liquid Rates % of Listed Vapor and Liquid Rates
3 3 3 3 3 3 3

APPROVED 3 4

ISSUE

APPROVED

JOB NO. P.O. NO. LOCATION

ITEM NO. DATE UNIT

REFERENCE SKETCH NO.

NOTE: The tray supplier shall: (1) quote the attached tray design; (2) rate the design and report the capacity and hydraulics. REMARKS:

MOBIL ENGINEERING GUIDE FRACTIONATING BED PROCESS DESIGN DATA SHEET

EGE 12-D-21B 1995
Page __ of __ ISSUE 1 2 TOWER: EQUIPMENT NO. SERVICE SECTION Bed No. Tower ID, mm (ft & in.) Packing Type Bed Height, mm (in.) Critical Fractionation Service (Y/N) Packing Size Max. Allow. )P/Bed, kPa (mm Hg) Packing Material Support Plate & Bed Limiter Material Distributor Material CONDITION AT BED VAPOR: Temperature, C (F) Pressure, kPa abs (psia) Molecular Weight Viscosity, mPa*s (cP) Density, kg/m (lb/ft ) Rate, K*kg/hr (lb/hr) m /s (ft /s)* *At Actual Conditions LIQUID: Temperature C (F) Molecular Weight Surface Tension, mN/m (dyn/cm) Viscosity, mPas (cP) Density, kg/m (lb/ft ) Rate, K*kg/hr (lb/hr) Hot Liquid, m /h (US gpm) Foaming Factor GENERAL Capacity at Constant Vapor-to-Liquid Ratio: Percent of Flood Not to Exceed % at % of Maximum Design Vapor and Liquid Rates % of Listed Vapor and Liquid Rates
3 3 3 3 3 3 3

APPROVED 3 4

ISSUE

APPROVED

JOB NO. P.O. NO. LOCATION

ITEM NO. DATE UNIT

REFERENCE SKETCH NO.

TOP

BTM

TOP

BTM

TOP

BTM

TOP

BTM

TOP

BTM

Minimum Loading Beds to Be Effective at

NOTE: The packing supplier shall: (1) quote the attached packing design; (2) rate the design and report the % flood and pressure drop. Examples of critical fractionation services include main fractionators, debutanizers, and depropanizers. Examples of noncritical fractionation services include strippers, absorbers and heat transfer applications. REMARKS: