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A correlation for interfacial area in co-current gas-liquid downflow through packed beds

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Abstract

Interfacial area in cocurrent gas-liquid downflow through packed beds is correlated taking into consideration the physical properties of the fluids and the power dissipation in the system. The correlation is tested with the experimental data covering a wide range in system variables including low and high porosity packings, the flow rates of the phases and their physical properties.

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Abbreviations

a m2/m3 :

effective interfacial area

a t m2/m3 :

specific area of packing

D m:

column diameter

d m:

equivalent diameter of packing

d p m:

nominal packing size

f :

friction factor

G kg/(m2s):

gas mass flow rate

g m/s2 :

acceleration due to gravity

L kg/(m2s):

liquid mass flow rate

Mo :

Morton number

P N/m3 :

pressure drop per unit bed height

Re :

Reynolds number

u m/s:

velocity of phase

α :

ad p/(1−β)

β :

total liquid holdup

δ mH2O/m:

frictional pressure drop

ε :

bed porosity

η :

(1−1)23

μ kg/(ms):

viscosity

ρ kg/m3 :

density

σ N/m:

surface tension

σ :

RMS deviation

φ :

shape factor

g :

gas

l :

liquid

lg :

two phase

w :

water

cal:

calculated

cat:

catalyst

Cer:

ceramic

CHA:

cyclohexylamine

DEA:

diethanolamine

ETG:

ethyleneglycol

ETH:

ethanol

exp:

experimental

GB:

glass beads

IS:

Intalox saddles

MEA:

monoethanolamine

NaOH:

sodium hydroxide

PP:

polypropylene

PR:

Pall rings

RR:

Raschig rings

Sph:

spheres

TOL:

toluene

References

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Venkata Ratnam, G.S., Narasaiah, D.V. & Varma, Y.B.G. A correlation for interfacial area in co-current gas-liquid downflow through packed beds. Bioprocess Engineering 10, 53–59 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00393387

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