Fractionation Research, Inc. (FRI) has carried out industrial scale distillation research with hydrocarbon systems at column pressures from 10 mmHg to 34 bar in its 1.22 and 2.44 m columns since 1952. It determined and studied the hydraulic and mass transfer performances of various trays and packings and provided complete design manuals to its memberships and industry. Recent FRI fundamental distillation research includes foaming effect on tray and packing performances, wetting effect on packing performance, high viscosity effect on tray hydraulics, and random packing performance under high pressure conditions. Recent FRI distillation equipment research studied the performances of new structured packings and new conventional and non-conventional trays. The most significant results will be discussed and summarized.

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