Transport Phenomena and Fluid Mechanics

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Hydrodynamic modeling on the external liquid–solid wetting efficiency in a trickling flow reactor

  1. Zhen-Min Cheng*,
  2. Xiang-Ming Kong,
  3. Jun Zhu,
  4. Zhen-Yuan Wang,
  5. Jian Jin,
  6. Zi-Bin Huang

Article first published online: 27 MAR 2012

DOI: 10.1002/aic.13785

Issue

AIChE Journal

AIChE Journal

Volume 59, Issue 1, pages 283–294, January 2013

Additional Information

How to Cite

Cheng, Z.-M., Kong, X.-M., Zhu, J., Wang, Z.-Y., Jin, J. and Huang, Z.-B. (2013), Hydrodynamic modeling on the external liquid–solid wetting efficiency in a trickling flow reactor. AIChE J., 59: 283–294. doi: 10.1002/aic.13785

Author Information

  1. State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, P.R. China

*Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Z.-M. Cheng at zmcheng@ecust.edu.cn.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 21 DEC 2012
  2. Article first published online: 27 MAR 2012
  3. Accepted manuscript online: 24 FEB 2012 09:50AM EST
  4. Manuscript Revised: 7 FEB 2012
  5. Manuscript Received: 4 DEC 2011

Funded by

  • Natural Science Foundation of China. Grant Numbers: 20876043, 21076072
  • Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China

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Keywords:

  • trickle-bed reactor;
  • liquid flow texture;
  • three-region model;
  • liquid–solid wetting efficiency correlation

A three-region model was proposed, which considers the bed cross section being composed of a stagnant liquid region, a liquid film region, and a rivulet flow region. To estimate the fractions of the three regions, the fraction of film flow was evaluated first, by transforming the complex trickling flow texture into pure liquid film flow. Through the measurements of liquid holdup and pressure drop for the film flow, a relationship between relative permeability and gas saturation was established, and from which the fraction of film flow region was obtained. It shows packing size is most important to the faction of rivulet flow. The external wetting efficiency of the packing was correlated as the sum of two-third power of the liquid film fraction and the rivulet flow fraction, besides, a correlation based on Reynolds and Galileo numbers of the two phases in the form of inline image was proposed. © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 59: 283–294, 2013

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