Efficiency of mixture separation in a large-scale model of distillation column at periodic packing irrigation

Setting the optimal pattern of initial irrigation makes it possible to use the maximal packing height without considerable deterioration of mixture separation efficiency caused by formation of large-scale maldistribution of local mixture flows within the packing. Periodic packing irrigation also allows destruction of large-scale structures of local flow maldistribution within the structured packing. This paper presents data obtained in experiments on Sulzer 500X structured packing with the diameter of 0.6 m and height of 2.2 m at periodic packing irrigation. The working liquid was R114/R21 mixture. The packing was irrigated by a liquid distributor with possibility of independent control of any of 123 drip points. The experiments were carried out under the conditions of total reflux (L/V = 1) and L/V = 1.65.