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Mass Transfer In Trickle‐Bed Reactors With Structured Packing
Author(s) -
Battista J.,
Böhm U.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
chemical engineering and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.403
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1521-4125
pISSN - 0930-7516
DOI - 10.1002/ceat.200301739
Subject(s) - mass transfer , reynolds number , structured packing , wetting , packed bed , hydraulic diameter , atomic packing factor , materials science , mechanics , superficial velocity , chemistry , analytical chemistry (journal) , two phase flow , thermodynamics , flow (mathematics) , chromatography , composite material , turbulence , physics , crystallography
An experimental investigation was carried out to examine the fluid dynamic and mass transfer behavior of structured packing, with the liquid and gas phase flowing co‐currently downwards in the column. Liquid to packing mass transfer coefficients for three positions within the pack were measured by an electrochemical method, varying both the liquid and gas loads as well as the physical properties of the liquid phase. Due to the high void fraction of structured packing, much higher liquid flow rates can be used than in traditional particle trickle‐beds. It was found that in the range studied, the gas superficial velocity has no effect on the mass transfer rate and thus, a general mass transfer correlation in terms of liquid Reynolds number only, was developed. Wetted areas and the radial distribution of liquid through the packing element were determined by a colorimetric method. Within the range of liquid flow rates investigated, complete wetting is not achieved, even with the low viscosity solutions. The measured ratios of hydraulic to geometric area, agree reasonably well with values predicted by existing relationships.