Flow characterization in a gas-liquid column: application to a bioscrubberfor the deodorization of waste gases

The flow pattern of a countercurrent gas-liquid packed column is characteri zed for gas and liquid phases. Three packing materials are used (10 mm cera mic Raschig rings, 16 mm polypropylene Pall rings and 45 mmx18 mm polypropy lene Spiralpac) and various operating conditions are applied. A first appro ach consists in the study of pressure drops. On the one hand, this study en ables to determine, using the Ergun relation, the representative parameters of the three packing materials towards the flow. On the other hand, a stud y in a three-phase system is performed to establish the limit conditions us ing the Eckert model (flooding point. conditions of minimum wetting rate). An investigation of residence time distribution allows the hydrodynamic par ameters to be obtained for each phase. A dispersion model represents the ga s flow. The tanks-in-series with mass exchange model is retained for the wa shing solution now representation. The influence of operating conditions on hydrodynamic parameters is evaluated. The determination of these parameter s is of great interest to scale up and optimize the biological system of de odorization.