Engineered for Challenging Processes
Metal Bubble Cap Trays utilize inverted caps over vapor risers to force gas through slot-orifices, creating uniform bubbling through liquid layers. This design maintains stable vapor-liquid contact at ultra-low gas rates (<0.5 m/s) while accommodating liquid depths up to 150mm – ideal for reactive absorption, amine regeneration, and caustic concentration systems where process stability outweighs capacity limitations.
Core Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Performance Metric |
|---|---|
| Liquid Retention Depth | 50-150mm (adjustable weir/riser height) |
| Min Vapor Velocity | 0.3-0.5 m/s |
| Pressure Drop | 1.5-2× higher than valve trays |
| Turndown Ratio | 10:1 |
| Material Options | CS/SS316L/Alloy 20/Monel® |
(Slot designs: rectangular/notched/circular for flow optimization)
Operational Advantages
- Reaction-Enabled Design: Deep liquid layers facilitate chemical reactions (e.g., CO₂-MEA absorption)
- Zero Weeping: Positive vapor seal prevents liquid drainage at shutdown
- Corrosion Resilience: Monel®/Alloy 20 options for chloride/amine services
- Foam Tolerance: Slotted caps suppress entrainment in foaming systems
- Low-Rate Stability: Maintains efficiency at <20% design vapor load
Performance Comparison
| Characteristic | Bubble Cap Trays | Valve Trays |
|---|---|---|
| Min Vapor Load | ▼ 60% lower | Baseline |
| Liquid Holding Capacity | ▲ 3-5× higher | Limited by weir height |
| Pressure Drop | ▲ 30-50% higher | Baseline |
| Fouling Resistance | ▼ Moderate | ▲ High (fixed valve) |
| Reactive Applications | ● Ideal | ○ Limited |
Industrial Applications
► Gas Treating
- MDEA/DEA amine contactors
- Sour water strippers
- Claus tail gas units
► Caustic Processing
- NaOH concentration (10-50%)
- Soda ash finishing towers
- Mercaptan oxidation reactors
► Specialty Chemical
- Fatty acid sulfonation
- Nitration column reactors
- Reactive distillation systems
