Hydrodynamic Behavior and Residence Time Distribution of Winpak in a Concurrent Downflow Packed Column

The hydrodynamic behavior of Winpak was tested in a concurrent downflow packed column with air-water system. Models and empirical equations for predicting pressure drop and dynamic liquid holdup were proposed and compared with experimental results. The examination of Residence Time Distribution (RTD) relied on the pulse method and a conductivity meter which deduceprintd the axial Peclet number, axial dispersion coefficient and dynamic liquid holdup. The relations of dynamic liquid holdup obtained from gravimetric drainprinting experiments and RTD studies were discussed with static and total liquid holdup. Potential impacts of the liquid distributor and conductivity cell were also assessed. The results prove that models and empirical equations fit well with experimental data and are reliable for design and scale-up.