Distribution liquid, grid packings

Very important for all types of packings is a uniform liquid distribution at the top of the bed and a limitation of bed height to 6 or 8 m. Beneath each bed, the liquid has to be collected, mixed, and redistributed. These measures intend to suppress the so-called maldistribution of liquid because it strongly affects mass transfer rates. The design of liquid distributors, liquid collectors, support grids, etc., should provide a large open area not to hinder the countercurrent flow of gas and liquid. 

Grid scans can also be used to investigate mechanical construction problems such as collapsed packed beds or the correct installation of distributors as well as the correct distribution of incoming liquid feed. An irregular distributor can undermine the performance of the entire packed bed and column. Liquid distributors must spread liquid uniformly on top of a bed, resist plugging and fouling, and also provide free space for gas flow. An incorrectly water level installed distributor, that is a tilted distributor, could cause liquid to flow preferentially on one side of the column. 

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