Chemical Engineering & Technology, Vol.30, No.1, 52-58, 2007
Packing with stamped horizontal lamellas operating at extremely low liquid loads - 1. Hydrodynamics of a single plate
In the case of equilibrium absorption with low initial concentrations of very soluble absorbed gas, it can be seen from the material balance of the packed columns that the liquid superficial velocity must be very low to carry out the process in a counter current manner. Preceding investigations have shown that a packing made of separate short horizontal lamellas of very wettable sintered PVC is especially effective for mass transfer under these conditions. The construction of the packing of single lamellas is a difficult and expensive task. The aim of the present work is to investigate a new type of packing composed of many lamellas stamped in sheets of sintered PVC. The construction of the new more easily generated packing is described. It is shown that the irrigated packing is almost fully covered with a moving liquid film at extremely low liquid flow rates, ensuring very high radial spreading and uniform distribution of the liquid phase.