LIQUID FLOW TEXTURE IN TRICKLE-BED REACTORS - AN EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY

Modeling of trickle-bed reactors requires the knowledge of liquid flow texture. A dye-adsorption method was employed to study the liquid flo w texture in the bed. Pictures of cross sections of the dismantled bed at different depths were taken. The texture in prewetted and nonprewe tted beds of glass beads (nonporous) and alumina particles (porous) of different sizes was studied. To supplement the visual observation, ex it liquid distribution and pressure drop were measured. The liquid flo w texture was deduced from the visual observations and exit liquid dis tribution. The present study revealed several unexpected features. The behavior of a bed of porous particles was strikingly different from t hat of nonporous particles. The interpretation of the previous work on the hysteresis of pressure drop, gas-liquid and liquid-solid interfac ial areas, and the implications of the observed liquid flow texture on modeling of trickle-bed reactors are discussed.