Statistical characterization of macroscale multiphase flow textures in trickle beds

Experimental studies (Lutran et al., Ind. Engng Chem. Res. 30 (1991) 1270; Ravindra et al., Ind. Engng Chem. Res. 36 (1997) 5133) and numerical simula tion (Jiang et al., Chem. Engng Sci. 54 (1999) 2409-2419) lead to the concl usion that fluid flow distribution in trickle beds is a function of bed str ucture (i.e. porosity distribution), particle external wetting and inlet su perficial velocities of the two fluids. In this study, quantitative relatio nships among the above parameters are developed in a statistical manner thr ough a series of computational fluid dynamics simulations. The contribution of capillary forces to liquid maldistribution is significant in the case o f partial particle external wetting; however, it is shown that the effect o f porosity non-uniformity in packed beds can be reduced if the particles ar e prewetted well. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.