Investigation of countercurrent flow profile and liquid holdup in random packed column with local CFD data

Fu, Yucheng; Bao, Jie; Singh, Rajesh K.; Wang, Chao; Xu, Zhijie

doi:10.1016/j.ces.2020.115693

Investigation of countercurrent flow profile and liquid holdup in random packed column with local CFD data

Journal Article · Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 EDT 2020 · Chemical Engineering Science

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2020.115693· OSTI ID:1630118

^[1]; Bao, Jie ^[1]; ^[1]; ^[1]; ^[1]

Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Liquid holdup and mass transfer area are critical parameters used in packed column design and CO₂ capture efficiency prediction. Compared to experimental methods, 3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) can provide high-resolution data for studying countercurrent flow hydrodynamics in a packed column. In this paper, a framework was established for modeling the liquid–gas countercurrent flow in a random packed column with pall rings. Besides the column-averaged information, the radial pall ring distribution, velocity, and liquid holdup profiles are obtained in the simulations. The radial two-phase velocity and liquid holdup profiles show significant fluctuations caused by the non-uniform pall ring distribution. The entrance effect and wall influence are also observed in the packed column. By using local countercurrent flow information, the packing specific area $$a_p$$ and liquid velocity $$u_L$$ range are significantly expanded for liquid holdup hL prediction. This enables us to develop the liquid holdup correlation with one packing size and six CFD runs only. The proposed power law of the liquid holdup correlation $$h_L~u_L^{0.44}$$ indicates the random packed column falls in a viscous to turbulent transition regime with a Reynolds Number range of [6.7–40.2]. The derived liquid holdup correlation is in good agreement with existing correlations that are developed using the column-averaged experimental data.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-76RL01830

OSTI ID:: 1630118

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1615046

Report Number(s):: PNNL-SA--148356

Journal Information:: Chemical Engineering Science, Journal Name: Chemical Engineering Science Journal Issue: C Vol. 221; ISSN 0009-2509

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

References (33)

Loading Capacity in Packing Towers - Database, Correlations and Analysis Piché, S.; Larachi, F.; Grandjean, B. P. A. Chemical Engineering & Technology, Vol. 24, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1002/1521-4125(200104)24:4<373::AID-CEAT373>3.0.CO;2-0	journal	April 2001
Liquid distribution images on structured packing by X-ray computed tomography Marchot, P.; Toye, D.; Pelsser, A-M. AIChE Journal, Vol. 47, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1002/aic.690470622	journal	June 2001
Rektifizierwirkung bei Vakuumbetrieb in Füllkörperschüttungen: Rektifizierwirkung bei Vakuumbetrieb in Füllkörperschüttungen Gelbe, H. Chemie Ingenieur Technik, Vol. 40, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1002/cite.330401106	journal	June 1968
Packungskolonnen Mersmann, Alfons; Deixler, Alfred Chemie Ingenieur Technik, Vol. 58, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1002/cite.330580109	journal	January 1986
Improving the prediction of irrigated pressure drop in packed absorption towers Piché, Simon R.; Larachi, Faïcal; Grandjean, Bernard P. A. The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, Vol. 79, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1002/cjce.5450790417	journal	August 2001
Hierarchical calibration and validation framework of bench-scale computational fluid dynamics simulations for solvent-based carbon capture. Part 2: Chemical absorption across a wetted wall column: Original Research Article: Hierarchical calibration and validation framework of bench-scale computational fluid dynamics simulations Wang, Chao; Xu, Zhijie; Lai, Kevin Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology, Vol. 8, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1002/ghg.1727	journal	October 2017
Hold-up of mellapak structured packings Suess, P.; Spiegel, L. Chemical Engineering and Processing: Process Intensification, Vol. 31, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1016/0255-2701(92)85005-M	journal	May 1992
Ammonia absorption into water in a packed tower II: Measurement of mass transfer coefficients Spedding, P. L.; Jones, M. T.; Lightsey, G. R. The Chemical Engineering Journal, Vol. 32, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1016/0300-9467(86)80003-X	journal	June 1986
Liquid and gas flow patterns in random packings Kouri, R. J.; Sohlo, J. The Chemical Engineering Journal and the Biochemical Engineering Journal, Vol. 61, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1016/0923-0467(95)03032-8	journal	February 1996
CFD modelling and experimental validation of pressure drop and flow profile in a novel structured catalytic reactor packing Calis, H. P. A.; Nijenhuis, J.; Paikert, B. C. Chemical Engineering Science, Vol. 56, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0009-2509(00)00400-0	journal	February 2001
Influence of the viscosity on the liquid hold-up in trickle-bed reactors with structured packings Sidi-Boumedine, Réda; Raynal, Ludovic Catalysis Today, Vol. 105, Issue 3-4 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cattod.2005.06.040	journal	August 2005
DEM-CFD simulations of fixed bed reactors with small tube to particle diameter ratios Eppinger, T.; Seidler, K.; Kraume, M. Chemical Engineering Journal, Vol. 166, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2010.10.053	journal	January 2011
Investigation of radial heat transfer in a fixed-bed reactor: CFD simulations and profile measurements Dong, Ying; Sosna, Bahne; Korup, Oliver Chemical Engineering Journal, Vol. 317 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2017.02.063	journal	June 2017
Multiphase flow studies for microscale hydrodynamics in the structured packed column Singh, Rajesh K.; Galvin, Janine E.; Sun, Xin Chemical Engineering Journal, Vol. 353 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2018.07.067	journal	December 2018
Hydrodynamics and mass transfer in a packed column: Case of toluene absorption with a viscous absorbent Heymes, Frederic; Manno Demoustier, Peggy; Charbit, Françoise Chemical Engineering Science, Vol. 61, Issue 15 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2006.03.037	journal	August 2006
Handling contact points in reactive CFD simulations of heterogeneous catalytic fixed bed reactors Rebughini, Stefano; Cuoci, Alberto; Maestri, Matteo Chemical Engineering Science, Vol. 141 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2015.11.013	journal	February 2016
Effect of the contact angle on the morphology, residence time distribution and mass transfer into liquid rivulets: A CFD study Sebastia-Saez, Daniel; Gu, Sai; Ramaioli, Marco Chemical Engineering Science, Vol. 176 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2017.09.046	journal	February 2018
Beyond the standard two-film theory: Computational fluid dynamics simulations for carbon dioxide capture in a wetted wall column Wang, Chao; Xu, Zhijie; Lai, Canhai Chemical Engineering Science, Vol. 184 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2018.03.021	journal	July 2018
Liquid holdup and pressure drop in packed column with structured packing under offshore conditions Son, Yongho; Won, Wangyun Chemical Engineering Science, Vol. 195 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2018.10.034	journal	February 2019
Liquid distribution and liquid hold-up in modern high capacity packings Alix, Pascal; Raynal, Ludovic Chemical Engineering Research and Design, Vol. 86, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cherd.2008.02.021	journal	June 2008
The effect of fly ash on fluid dynamics of CO2 scrubber in coal-fired power plant Chen, Zhisheng; Yates, Derek; Neathery, James K. Chemical Engineering Research and Design, Vol. 90, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cherd.2011.07.024	journal	March 2012
Digital predictions of complex cylinder packed columns Caulkin, R.; Ahmad, A.; Fairweather, M. Computers & Chemical Engineering, Vol. 33, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compchemeng.2008.06.001	journal	January 2009
A Review of Post-combustion CO2 Capture Technologies from Coal-fired Power Plants Wang, Yuan; Zhao, Li; Otto, Alexander Energy Procedia, Vol. 114 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2017.03.1209	journal	July 2017
Lattice approaches to packed column simulations Caulkin, Richard; Jia, Xiaodong; Fairweather, Mike Particuology, Vol. 6, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.partic.2008.07.022	journal	December 2008
On hydraulic permeability of random packs of monodisperse spheres: Direct flow simulations versus correlations Zaman, Ehsan; Jalali, Payman Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Vol. 389, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physa.2009.09.030	journal	January 2010
Mass Transfer Parameters for Packings: Effect of Viscosity Song, Di; Seibert, A. Frank; Rochelle, Gary T. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, Vol. 57, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.7b04396	journal	January 2018
Direct Effect of Solvent Viscosity on the Physical Mass Transfer for Wavy Film Flow in a Packed Column Xu, Zhijie; Singh, Rajesh Kumar; Bao, Jie Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, Vol. 58, Issue 37 https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.9b01226	journal	July 2019
Carbon Dioxide Capture in Metal–Organic Frameworks Sumida, Kenji; Rogow, David L.; Mason, Jarad A. Chemical Reviews, Vol. 112, Issue 2, p. 724-781 https://doi.org/10.1021/cr2003272	journal	September 2011
Pressure Gradient and Liquid Holdup in Irrigated Packed Towers Buchanan, J. E. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Fundamentals, Vol. 8, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1021/i160031a022	journal	August 1969
Evaluation of gas-liquid contact area and liquid holdup of random packing using CFD simulation Kang, Jia-Lin; Chen, Wei-Fu; Wong, David Shan-Hill 2017 6th International Symposium on Advanced Control of Industrial Processes (AdCONIP) https://doi.org/10.1109/ADCONIP.2017.7983854	conference	May 2017
Improved Liquid Hold-up Correlation for Randomly Packed Towers Piché, S.; Larachi, F.; Grandjean, B. P. A. Chemical Engineering Research and Design, Vol. 79, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1205/026387601528543	journal	January 2001
Mass Transfer Coefficients Between gas and Liquid Phases in Packed Columns Onda, Kakusaburo; Takeuchi, Hiroshi; Okumoto, Yoshio Journal of Chemical Engineering of Japan, Vol. 1, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1252/jcej.1.56	journal	January 1968
Advances in fixed-bed reactor modeling using particle-resolved computational fluid dynamics (CFD) Jurtz, Nico; Kraume, Matthias; Wehinger, Gregor D. Reviews in Chemical Engineering, Vol. 35, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1515/revce-2017-0059	journal	February 2019

Similar Records

Flooding rates and holdup in packed liquid--liquid extraction columns

Journal Article · Fri Oct 31 23:00:00 EST 1975 · AIChE J.; (United States) · OSTI ID:7366984

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
computational fluid dynamics
countercurrent flow
liquid holdup
pall ring
random packed column

Investigation of countercurrent flow profile and liquid holdup in random packed column with local CFD data

Citation Formats

References (33)

Similar Records

Related Subjects