Study on the hydrodynamics of structured packing: Liquid holdup and pressure drop of a novel 3D printed packing

Abstract

SpiroPak is a patented innovative structured packing and can be used in process industries for chemical separation purposes. The core of its design is to ensure an uninterrupted flow path for both liquids and gases, leading to remarkably low-pressure drops but with substantial surface areas for efficient mass transfer. Experimental studies using the wire-mesh sensor technique have showcased SpiroPak's ability to eliminate the channelling effect that is observed in commercial packings. Furthermore, its wide-ranging liquid holdup capability encompasses the functionalities of conventional packings, offering clients the feasibility of diverse applications. In this study, the pressure-drop correlations for SpiroPak in this work are based on Stichlmair empirical formulas, with the coefficients of C1, C2 and C3 tuned through the curve fitting method. The primary objective of this study was to establish packing selection criteria based on the key hydraulic performance metrics, such as pressure drop and liquid holdup. By swiftly identifying suitable packing solutions, the method accelerates the pre-selection process, significantly reducing computational complexity and time expenditures at the early stages of research and development.