Liquid Flow Patterns

The cross-flow plate (Fig. 14-16 ) utilizes a hquid downcomer and is more generally used than the counterflow plate (Fig. 14-16Z ) because of transfer-efficiency advantages and greater operating range. The liquid-flow pattern on a cross-flow plate can be controlled by placement... 

FIG. 14-17 Common liquid-flow patterns, cross-flow plates. (Smith, Design of Eqiiihhriiim Stage Processes, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1963. )... 

Quandt, E., Analysis of Gas-Liquid Flow Patterns, A.I.Ch.E., 6th Nat l Heat Transfer Conference, Boston, Mass., Aug. 1963. 

A modified type of airlift system widi gas and liquid flow patterns in which a pump transports the ah and liquid through die vessel. Here, an external loop is used, with a mechanical pump to remove the liquid. Gas and circulated liquid are injected into the tower through a nozzle. Figure 6.2 shows an airlift bioreactor diat operates widi an external recirculation pump. 

Fig. 6.1. Gas and liquid flow pattern with internal loop cycle.

A considerable amount of information has been reported regarding mass transfer between a single fluid phase and solid particles (such as those of spherical and cylindrical shape) forming a fixed bed. A recent review has been presented by Norman (N2). The applicability of such data to calculations regarding trickle-flow processes is, however, questionable, due to the fundamental difference between the liquid flow pattern of a fixed bed with trickle flow and that of a fixed bed in which the entire void volume is occupied by one fluid. 

In Section I, a qualitative schematic description of the main connection between increased agitation intensity and increased total mass-transfer rate was given. It can readily be seen from this description that further research in gas and liquid flow patterns and in the area of relative bubble velocities in dispersions will contribute to the basic knowledge necessary for understand ing the real mechanisms occurring in these systems. 

However, in contrast to the two classes of dispersive mixers mentioned before, the attached flow-through channel contains a packed bed of particles which may carry a catalyst. This chamber is much larger than the typical dimensions of the inlet channels (e.g. compare with Section 5.1.2). The packed bed and its interstices influence the gas/liquid flow patterns, e.g. a trickle-bed operation may be established. 

The washing of filter cake is carried out to remove liquid impurities from valuable solid product or to increase recovery of valuable filtrates from the cake. Wakeman (1990) has shown that the axial dispersion flow model, as developed in Sec. 4.3.6, provides a fundamental description of cake washing. It takes into account such situations as non-uniformities in the liquid flow pattern, non-uniform porosity distributions, the initial spread of washing liquid onto the topmost surface of the filter cake and the desorption of solute from the solid surfaces. 

Figure 11.21. Liquid flow patterns on cross-flow trays, (a) Single pass (b) Reverse flow (c) Double pass...

To evaluate the true temperature difference (driving force) in a mixed vapour condenser a condensation curve (temperature vs. enthalpy diagram) must be calculated showing the change in vapour temperature versus heat transferred throughout the condenser, Figure 12.48. The temperature profile will depend on the liquid-flow pattern in the condenser. There are two limiting conditions of condensate-vapour flow ... 

As shown in Section I, very little is known about predicting liquid-liquid flow patterns and calculating pressure drops, holdups, and interfacial areas however, some estimates can be made by assuming no slip between the phases, using... 

The problem of two-phase-flow classification is complicated by the inevitable differences due to individual interpretations of visual observations, and also by differences in terminology. Fig. 1, taken from the work of Govier et al. (G6), shows the variation in terminology used for vertical gas-liquid flow patterns. It includes a classification of flow regimes proposed by Govier et al. based on pressure-drop behavior rather than visual observations, as illustrated in Fig. 2. In the definitions adopted by the writer, which follow, an attempt has been made to select the most... 

Figure 7.7b shows a two-flat blade paddle. If the flat blades are pitched, then the liquid flow pattern becomes intermediate between axial and radial flows. Many other types of impellers are used in stirred tanks, but these are not described at this point. 

Liquid flow pattern induced by electrode rotation... 

A question to be resolved in predicting efficiency concerns the liquid-flow pattern. It is usual practice to assume that the vapour is fully mixed, but there is a diversity of treatments of the liquid phase. The two limiting cases are completely-mixed-liquid and plug-flow-liquid. Achieved efficiencies on well designed trays usually fall between these cases. The assumption of a well-mixed tray liquid is only valid for the smallest trays (pilot scale). 

Well-Mixed Bubble Column Reactors Gas-Liquid Flow Patterns and Mass Transfer... 

Liquid Flow Patterns on Large Trays The most popular theoretical models (below) postulate that liquid crosses the tray in plug flow with superimposed backmixing, and that the vapor is perfectly mixed. Increasing tray diameter promotes liquid plug flow and suppresses backmixing. 

Figure 6 Gas-liquid flow patterns in horizontal flow.

FIG. 6-24 Gas/liquid flow patterns in horizontal pipes. (From Alves, Chem. Eng. Progr., 50, 449 56 [1954].)... 

Other Synthesis Problems. One recent synthesis publication by Nishitani and Kunugita (1979) is difficult to classify under the above headings, it deals with selecting the optimal vapor/ liquid flow patterns to use for a multiple effect evaporator system. The two obvious patterns are cocurrent (the liquid and vapor proceed through the system together) and countercurrent. Other patterns are possible and often significantly improve the economics. 

Minimum downcomer width and minimum downcomer area. As the downcomer becomes smaller, its width decreases faster than its length, turning the downcomer into a long and narrow slot. This geometry increases the resistance to liquid downflow and to upflow of disengaging vapor. Small downcomers are also extremely sensitive to foaming, fouling, construction tolerances, and introduction of debris. Smaller weirs associated with small downcomers distort the liquid flow pattern as it approaches the weir ("weir constriction effect ), which in-... 

The correction term Fw (2-5,9,13,31) corrects the equation for the distortion of the liquid flow pattern as it approaches the weir, and is shown in Fig. 6.23 (18). Some variations of Eq. (6.49) for unique weir designs are... 

Liquid flow patterns and maldistribution on large trays... 

Liquid flow patterns. Liquid entering a single-pass tray flows in a diverging channel until reaching the tray centerline, then in a converging channel as the outlet weir is approached. The liquid has little incentive to move sideways and follow the curved walls of the column. Instead, it seeks the shortest path from inlet to outlet, and channels through the tray center (Fig. 7.75). This leaves stagnant zones near the curved walls on the side. 

Tray tilt affects the liquid flow pattern and the boundaries between the regions (148). 

Case studies were reported (170,174) of large-diameter (> 15-ft) towers with sieve trays not reaching the expected efficiency. Maldistribution was cited as the culprit or at least one of the causes. Improving liquid flow patterns, often among other modifications, was the fix. The only other evidence that channeling adversely affects tray efficiency comes from the above-mentioned theoretical models. 

Improving liquid flow patterns. A number of special tray designs have been developed to improve liquid velocity distribution on large-diameter trays. Their main applications are vacuum distillation. In pressure distillation, liquid flows are usually high and multipass trays are used, so that stagnant zones are seldom a problem. Some means of improving the liquid flow patterns are... 

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