Liquid distribution in packed columns

Abstract Liquid distribution and redistribution from the initial distribution in columns packed with 1″ Pall rings, 1″ Super Intalox saddles, No.1 stainless-steel Nutter rings, and No.5 IMTP stainless-steel rings have been examined in a column of 0.3 m diameter. A wide range of gas and liquid flows was studied for packing heights from 0 to 1.75 m. Quantitative changes in liquid distribution for all packings were closely described by a recent theory for anisotropic redistribution that was a development of the same theory given for anisotropic redistribution. In comparing the experimental results with those obtained for columns packed with ceramic rings, it was found that enhancement of liquid flow in regions of packing close to the wall was similar for all packings, but the increase in wall flow with axial distances from the top of the column was less rapid because radial redistribution in the high voidage packings was much weaker than redistribution observed in ceramic packings.