Chapter 8 - Distribution of the liquid and gas phase over the cross-section of a packed bed column

Abstract

This chapter discusses the problem of maldistribution of the liquid and gas phase in packed columns. The chapter also reviews the possibility for the reduction of the liquid and gas phase and takes it into account by the calculations of these apparatuses. Strong maldistribution in packed beds with smaller diameter of the particles is carried out using magnetic resonance imaging for visualization of the packing volume. This method allows visualizing the distribution of the random packing elements and helps to obtain the picture of the velocity components of the flow. Another type of investigation showing the maldistribution of the liquid phase is the determination of the holdup distribution using the gamma tomography method. The experiments are carried out with metal Pall ring 24.4 mm in a 600 mm diameter column, and three types of liquid distributors are used. The third (point source inlet) liquid distributor is used to feed the liquid as a single jet in the centre of the column cross-section.