Hydrodynamic behavior of flow-guided sieve plate (a Linde type sieve plate) has been studied. Studies were carried out using air and water in a rectangular column. To obtain information on the effects of surface tension and specific gravity of liquid on plate hydraulics

surfactants were added to alter the surface tension of water and saturated aqueous solution of common salt was used instead of water for some experiments. The experimental results about dry plate pressure drop

pressure drop caused by vapor through liquid and formation of bubbles

entrainment and weeping point are reported in detail and correlation equations and graphes for design purposes are presented. Application of the results to commercial column design has been verified by checking with plant data. Based on adequate experimental work the aeration factor β against calculated clear-liquid depth hL with hole F factor as parameter was plotted. It must be emphasized that appreciable error may be resulted if the β plot based on air-water system is applied to those systems with low interfacial tension. Thus

a correction formula for aeration factor β is specially proposed as. This formula may be used for conventional sieve plate and other type plates as well. After examining various reports about weeping point it has been found that the bases used by different authors are quite different. Considering the combined effects of the action of weeping on plate efficiency and the dependence of weeping rate on vapor velocity

it is concluded that choosing a relative weeping rate q=10% as weeping point may be suitable. Experimental results on clear-liquid height and froth height and corresponding correlation equations are also reported.