Study of transitions between flow types

Research motivation

Multiphase flow is of great importance in many chemical engineering applications. As examples, we may mention a description of hydrodynamics in absorption and distillation columns or bubble column reactors.

In our research, we focus mainly on the first of the listed processes. More specifically, we are aiming at modeling the flows with the utmost importance of the interfacial area size. Hence, the direct application of our work can be found in designing the above mentioned separation columns.

Background (few notes on structured packing)

Liquid flow on a structured packing

Structured packing

packing overall view

Overall view of the Mellapak 252Y packing

decomposed packing - front

Decomposed packing, front view

packing top view

Top view of the Mellapak 252Y packing

decomposed packing - top

Decomposed packing, top view

Results

Smooth plate - mesh size optimization

Smooth plate - varying liquid flow rate

flow types comparison

Different flow regimes

comparison with experimental data

Comparison with experimental data

flow types comparison

Wetted to total area ration in dependence on Weber #