High Interaction Regime Lockhart-Martinelli Model for Pressure Drop in Trickle-Bed Reactors

摘要

Pressure drop and liquid saturation in a cold model representative of trickle-bed reac- tors operating in the high interaction regime were measured using air and water at atmospheric pressure. Five different packings similar in shape and dimension to typical industrial catalysts ( cylindrical pellets, raschig rings, extrudates) were tested, covering a wide range of geometric characteristics. The adequacy of the most recent literature cor- relations for pressure drop in trickle-bed reactors was checked. The best predictions are provided by an empirical correlation based on the Lockhart-Martinelli parameters. A new model of similar accuracy was derived, which provides a theoretical basis for the succes.s:ful application of the Lockhart-Martinelli a1J1Jroach.