RTD STUDIES IN TRICKLE-BED REACTORS PACKED WITH POROUS PARTICLES

The residence time distribution (RTD) for liquid phase in a trickle be d reactor (TBR) has been experimentally studied for air-water system. Experiments were performed in a 15.2 cm diameter column using commeric al alumina extrudates with D/d(p) ratio equal to 75 to eliminate the r adial flow differences. The range of liquid and gas flow rates covered was 3.76 < Re-L < 9.3 and 0 < Re-G < 2.92. The axial dispersion model was used to compute axial dispersion coefficient. The effect of liqui d and gas flow rates on total liquid holdup and axial dispersion was i nvestigated. The total liquid holdup has been correlated to liquid and gas flow rates.