Chemical Engineering Communications, Vol.205, No.6, 727-738, 2018
Experimental study and hydrodynamic modeling of countercurrent liquid-solid system with batch liquid
It is known that a transient effluent outlet concentration is obtained with a batch of adsorbent solids in any operation. A preferred steady state outlet concentration can be achieved with a continuous flow of solids. In the present work, information on pressure profiles, the total pressure drop across the column and holdup of solids are experimentally obtained for various solid flow rates, particle sizes and densities in a countercurrent liquid-solid system. These experimental results are compared with the prediction obtained using a phenomenological model containing continuity and momentum balance equations. The dominant drag force term was expressed in terms of various drag equations. The drag expression developed by Foscolo et al. (1983) could predict the axial profiles of pressure drop and holdup, and the effect of various parameters on total pressure drop and solid holdup most satisfactorily.