Metal Fixed Valve Trays

The valve trays are typically with the covers provided to the perforations of the sieve trays. The valves are either movable (conventional) or fixed. The valves provide extra resistance to the rising vapors, which are discharged laterally. This helps better interactions with the liquid on the tray and increases efficiency. Valve trays have better turndown.
The fixed valve tray is a valve tray whose valve units are fixed in the fully open position and is a low-cost stationary assembly which imitates the shape of valve. They have better turn-down ratio than sieve trays. The absence of the moving disk eliminates wear and sticking, but at the expense of turndown as compared to other valve trays.

Benefits

· Lower froth height, less entrainment due to lateral vapor release

· Increased capacity and improved turndown compared to sieve trays

· High efficiency over a wide operating range through improved vapor-liquid contact

· Superior mechanical strength due to increased stiffness of tray deck, no moving parts and therefore no wear

· Excellent fouling resistance (for large fixed valves)

Applications

· Main fractionators of refineries

· Gas concentration columns of refineries

· Light end columns of petrochemical plants

· LNG / NGL fractionation columns

· Absorbers and regenerators of gas sweetening plants

· Beer columns, PVC slurry strippers (for large fixed valves)