Liquid phase residence time distribution for a two-phase countercurrent flow in a packed column with a novel internal

Abstract

The liquid phase residence time distribution (RTD) for gas–liquid countercurrent flow in a packed column with a novel internal was measured by conductivity measurements and an air–water system. The RTD of a liquid tracer is well represented by the ADM and PDE models. At lower gas flow rates, the Peclet number of the liquid in the packed column with the internal is lower than that without the internal; at higher gas flow rates, it is vice versa, especially with an internal with a higher volume fraction. The distribution of the liquid RTD can be improved by using suitable geometric parameters of the internal to give a larger volume fraction and a lower stage height.