Should You Consider Moving to Fixed Valves?

In recent years we have seen a general shift from floating valves towards using fixed valves on distillation trays. This is particularly the case in the refining industry where the loss of some operational flexibility is often considered an acceptable tradeoff for the benefits that fixed valves bring, including better reliability, fouling resistance and more robust designs that can better withstand operational upsets. This paper will present a review of the different types of fixed devices and their benefits including R&D and CFD development work and industrial case studies.