Wetted-wire columns: a potential alternative to packed or spray columns

Abstract

Wetted wires are a unique column internal with several advantages compared to spray and packed columns. These include near-perfect liquid distribution, extremely low pressure drops, and better heat or mass transfer due to droplet circulation. Currently, wetted-wire columns remain within the laboratory prototyping stage. The primary goal of this review is to present the current research on wetted-wire columns and to highlight the gaps that impede scale-up and commercialization. Initially, wetted-wire columns were proposed as an alternative to spray towers. However, wetted-wire columns occupy a space in between spray towers and packed columns. Therefore, wetted-wire columns should also be analyzed more like packed columns to increase the speed of technological translation. Wetted-wire column literature is presented by defining features (wire diameter, nozzle diameter, pitch, and material) and by performance indicators (operating range, pressure drop, hold-up, and separation efficiency). In addition, adjacent literature on wire-like structures is discussed.