Publications Repository - Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf

Although it is known that a loss in separation performance is caused by liquid maldistribution, there is only marginal knowledge about liquid distribution in rotating packed beds (RPBs). As a result, the exact influence of liquid distribution on separation performance in RPBs is not fully understood. Therefore, this study focuses on the influence of different liquid distributors on the liquid distribution of a rotating metal foam packing inside RPBs. Liquid hold-ups were measured non-invasively using gamma-ray computed tomography (CT), and water/air was the system under investigation, operated at atmospheric pressure, temperature of 20°C, liquid flow rate of 60 l h^-1, F-factor of 2.3 Pa^0.5 and at rotational speeds up to 900 rpm. For the first time, the liquid distribution in axial direction of a rotating metal foam of an RPB could be accessed, which allowed the identification and quantification of occurring wall flows. Furthermore, the path of the liquid phase through the entire opaque packing could be visualized for different operating conditions by synchronizing the CT scans with the rotational speed of the rotor. The use of a single-point full-jet nozzle was more prone to cause wall flow than the use of a rotating baffle distributor with 36 baffles. For comparison, circumferential liquid maldistribution was also observed using a rotating baffle distributor with 12 baffles.