Abstract
The industrial distillation plants and the cryogenic distillation column for (13C) isotope
enrichment have in common the probability to appear an undesirable phenomenon: the flooding,
when the plant efficiency decreases drastically. After a short description of the separation
equipment (separation column), the authors deal with the arising of the flooding process. Based on
simplified equations, the evolution of an intended flooding is studied, divided in more stages:
normal mode of operation, pre-flooding, "discharge" period, flooding period and flooding
damping. The next step of study will analyze the possibilities to avoid the flooding process, based
on online prediction methods.
