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what is the purpose of a chimney tray in a hydroskimming refinery's crude distillation column operating at atmospheric pressure?
 
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01/06/2009 A: keith bowers, B and B Consulting, kebowers47@gmail.com
A chimney tray is used to allow vapor to flow upward without contacting the liquid on that tray. for instance, the vapor return from a side-stream reboiler is best returned above the draw tray, with location where it best matches the other vapor flowing up. Physical constraints for a thermo-siphon reboiler return do not allow for vapor and liquid separation before return to the column, so a single return pipe is used, putting the liquid back on the tray with matching composition and passing the vapor upward through chimneys to the bottom side of the tray above the draw tray or even above that if best.