Structured packing geometry study for liquid-phase mass transfer and hydrodynamic performance using CFD

Abstract

An investigation on the geometry of structured packings was conducted using CFD to determine its impact on the liquid-phase hydrodynamic and mass transfer performance. Three variables validated the CFD hydrodynamic simulations: the liquid holdup, the liquid flow angle, and the Fanning friction factor. The hydrodynamic CFD predictions demonstrated excellent agreement with experimental holdup data, having a six percent average deviation. The CFD-predicted liquid mass transfer coefficient for the structured packing matched experimental data to within eight percent and also compared favorably with predictions from four industry-accepted semi-empirical correlations. To determine the dependence of the liquid-phase performance on the geometry of structured packings, the channel inclination angle and the channel opening angle varied. The liquid flow angle impacted the liquid mass transfer coefficient by increasing the upheaval as the film crossed each crimp in the structured packing.