The present disclosure provides a method of separating a feed stream in a distillation tower. The method includes maintaining a controlled freeze zone section in a distillation tower; maintaining a melt tray assembly within the controlled freeze zone section that operates at a temperature and pressure at which solid melts; forming solids in a controlled freeze zone section; raising a liquid level of a liquid in the melt tray assembly when the solids accumulate on a mechanical component in the controlled freeze zone section; raising a liquid temperature of the liquid while raising the liquid level; and lowering the liquid level after at least one of (a) a predetermined time period has passed and (b) an alternative temperature of the mechanical component is within an expected temperature range of a baseline temperature of the mechanical component.