(423b) Consistent Measurements of Hydraulic and Mass Transfer Packing Characteristics

Packed column design is strongly dependent on the accuracy of models predicting the mass transfer performance of packings.  This research utilizes a consistent approach to measuring mass transfer and hydraulic characteristics of both random and structured packings in order to create new and improved models for pressure drop, liquid holdup, contact area, and liquid and gas mass transfer coefficients.  Experimental methods have been created to measure the following characteristics of any packing:

                -Pressure drop (dry and irrigated)

                -Liquid Holdup

                -Flood Point

                -Effective Mass Transfer Area

                -Liquid Film Mass Transfer Coefficients

                -Gas Film Mass Transfer Coefficients

The purpose of this paper is to update the progress of this research by adding the results of characterizations completed on several new packings.  This paper will also show progress made in modeling efforts utilizing this new data.  Data will also be compared to existing models for contact area, liquid film, and gas film mass transfer coefficients.