High pressure reactor, liquid holdup rates

Figure 6. Liquid holdup for various gas and liquid flow rates in a high pressure reactor.

The gas properties have no effect on liquid holdup at low pressure and low gas rates, when the liquid flow is affected only by gravity forces. At high gas velocity the holdup decreases because of shear at the gas-liquid interface. Several correlations have been proposed to account for the effects of liquid and gas properties on holdup, but these correlations are complex and quite different in form [20], which makes comparisons difficult. Furthermore, most of the data are from studies at ambient conditions using water or low-molecular-weight solvents. More data are needed from reactors operating at industrial conditions. 

---