Modeling the hydrodynamics of last-generation catalytic structured packings

Reactive distillation is one of the most attractive and popular reaction-separation units nowadays used in the CPI. The hydrodynamic properties of a novel family of catalytic structured packings (KATAPAK®-SP) were modeled using a modified version of a hydraulic model originally proposed by Hoffmann et al. for MULTIPAK®. Modifications to the model included the adaptation of a more suitable liquid holdup correlation for the open channels, and the use of a different split factor for the liquid flowing through the catalyst bags and the open channels. The use of a more suitable liquid holdup correlation for the open channels in combination with a liquid split factor dependent on liquid load gave improved pressure-drop representations below the load point of the catalyst bags. For all liquid loads, the modified model represented well the observed pressure drop data for both KATAPAK-SP packings below their gas loading points. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the 2006 AIChE Annual Meeting (San Francisco, CA 11/12-17/2006).