Pressure drop, packings effect

The drawbacks of randomly packed beds in microchannels are the high pressure drop and effects related to the nonuniform packing of the small catalyst particles, namely, channeling and maldistribution of the fluids. A large RTD results, which diminishes the reactor performance and, in the case of sequential reaction networks, the product selectivity. The reactor or the catalyst may be modified such that a structured bed is obtained. 

Influence of Packing Shape, Irrigated Packed Beds, High Liquid Rate Performance, Liquid Holdup in Packed Beds, Pressure Drop Calculation, Effects of Surface Tension and Foaming, Concurrent Flow Operation, Cross-Flow Operation, Example Problem, Notation, References... 

When two phases are present the situation is quite complex, especially in beds of fine soHds where interfacial forces can be significant. In coarse beds, eg, packed towers, the effects are often correlated empirically in terms of pressure drops for the single phases taken individually. 

Efficiency and pressure drop data for Siilzer BX metal gauze structured packing and for three test mixtures are shown in Fig. 14-7.5. For the ethyl benzene/styrene test mixture, the effect of operating pressure is shown. The high viscosity mixture, propylene glycoL/ethylene... 

For liquids of viscosity of 30 centipoise and lower, effect on capacity is small. For high iscosity select larger packing to reduce pressure drop, and cdso consult packing manufacturer. 

Norton offers a new high performance system centered around an improved Intalox metal tower packing, including effective internals to provide the distribution and pressure drop consistent with the higher performance of the packing itself. 

As an alternate consideration, assume various pressure drops/foot of packing (same) and determine effect on calculated column diameter. Use the same input information as original stated conditions, then ... 

Reynolds number for gas S = length of corrugation side Uge = effective velocity of gas Ug = superficial velocity of gas Ui = superficial velocity of liquid Ap = pressure drop per unit packed height e = packing void fraction 0 = angle of flow channel (from horizontal) fi = viscosity p = density... 

Several uncertainties in this periodic process have not been resolved. Pressure drop is too high at SV = 10,000 h 1 when packed beds of carbon are used. Study of carbon-coated structured packing or of monoliths with activated carbon washcoats is needed to see if lower pressure drops at 95% SO2 removal can be achieved. Stack gas from coal or heavy oil combustion contains parts-per-million or -per-billion quantities of toxic elements and compounds. Their removal in the periodically operated trickle bed must be examined, as well as the effect of these elements on acid quality. So far, laboratory experiments have been done to just 80°C use of acid for flushing the carbon bed should permit operation at temperatures up to 150°C. Performance of periodic flow interruption at such temperatures needs to be determined. The heat exchange requirements for the RTI-Waterloo process shown in Fig. 26 depend on the temperature of S02 scrubbing. If operation at 150°C is possible, gas leaving the trickle bed can be passed directly to the deNO, step without reheating. 

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