Plate towers are preferred to packed towers, when large temperature changes are involved, because of the reason that the

ANS:A - packing may be crushed due to thermal expansion/contraction of the components of the equipments.

Plate towers are preferred over packed towers when large temperature changes are involved because the packing may be crushed due to thermal expansion/contraction of the components of the equipment. Explanation:

• Temperature changes can cause expansion or contraction of materials, especially metals. If the tower undergoes significant temperature fluctuations, the packing material in a packed tower may not be able to withstand these changes, leading to deformation or crushing of the packing material.
• Plate towers, on the other hand, typically consist of trays or plates made of rigid materials such as metal or ceramic. These materials are less susceptible to deformation due to temperature changes compared to the packing materials used in packed towers.
• Therefore, in applications where large temperature variations are expected, plate towers are preferred for their ability to maintain structural integrity and performance under such conditions.