Hydrodynamic data obtained from laboratory‐scale trickle‐beds often fail to accurately represent industrial‐scale systems with high packing aspect ratios and column‐to‐particle diameter ratios. In this study, pressure drop, liquid holdup, and flow regime transition were investigated in a pilot‐scale trickle‐bed column of 33 cm ID and 2.45 m bed height packed with 1.6 mm × 8.4 ± 1.4 mm cylindrical extrudates for air‐water mass superficial velocities of 0.0023 – 0.094 kg/m²s and 4.5 – 45 kg/m²s, respectively, at atmospheric pressure. Significant deviation was observed from pressure drop and liquid holdup correlations at low liquid flows rates, corresponding to gravity‐driven flow limit. Likewise, liquid saturation is overestimated by correlations at high liquid flow rates, owing to significantly reduced wall effects. Lastly, trickle‐to‐dispersed bubble flow and trickle‐to‐pulsing flow regime transitions are reported using a combination of visual observations and analysis of the magnitude of local pressure fluctuations within the column. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 64: 2560–2569, 2018

中文翻译：

---

低气体流速的中试顺流滴流床反应器中的流体力学

从实验室规模的滴流床获得的流体力学数据通常无法准确地代表具有高填充长径比和色谱柱与粒径比的工业规模系统。在这项研究中，研究人员在一个中试滴流床塔中对压降，液体滞留率和流态转换进行了研究，该塔的内径为33 cm内径，床高为2.45 m，装有1.6 mm×8.4±1.4 mm圆柱状挤出物，用于空气水表面速度为0.0023 – 0.094 kg / m ² s和4.5 – 45 kg / m ²s分别在大气压下。在低液体流速下，与重力驱动的流量极限相对应，观察到压力降和液体滞留量相关性存在显着偏差。同样，由于显着降低的壁效应，在高液体流速下的相关性也高估了液体饱和度。最后，结合目视观察和分析柱内局部压力波动幅度的方法，报告了从trick散到分散的气泡流动和trick散到脉冲的流动状态转变。©2018美国化学工程师学会AIChE J，64：2560–2569，2018