New Catalytic Distillation Components Hydrodynamic Performance

In this work, a new catalytic distillation packing has been developed and its hydrodynamics was measured in a cold mould column with 500 mm diameter. Air and water at normal pressure and room temperature were used as test media. For different liquid velocity, the curves for pressure drops per height versus gas superficial velocities were measured, and the flooding point curve was obtained. The correlated formulas predicting the pressure drop and flooding point were obtained by fitting the experimental data. The static and dynamic liquid holdup was respectively determined by weighting method and volume method. The correlated formula predicting total liquid holdup was given by fitting the experimental data. The axial dispersion characteristics of the liquid in the catalytic distillation column was studied.The RTD(residence time distribution)curves were obtained by means of the pulse tracer technique, and were interpreted using the axial dispersion model.The axial Peclet number(Pez) and the mean residence time Or ) are obtained by least square fitting method in the entire time domain, the calculated RID curves were in good agreement with the experiment ones.The correlated formulas predicting Peand t were given by fitting the experimental data. It can be seen that the liquid flow rate has a greater effect on axial dispersion than the gas flow rate. Experiment result has certain reference value for the design of catalytic distillation column.