Co-current downward flow regime transition in solid SiSiC foams: Flow regime prediction and measurement

In recent years, solid foams have gained rising interest as multiphase reactor internals for highly exo- or endothermic processes due to relatively low pressure drop, high specific surface areas and elevated radial transport properties. Beside the geometric bed properties, the over-all reactor performance is significantly affected by the prevailing flow regime. In the present contribution, the flow regime transition of co-current downward flows in open-cell SiSiC solid foams has been investigated by optical and acoustical observations as well as fast pressure transducer. Measurements were performed with a water-air system in different bed geometries of varied pore densities and packing diameters of 20, 30, and 45 ppi and DN50 and DN100, respectively. Additionally, aqueous systems with reduced surface tension and increased viscosity have been tested. In order to predict the regime transition from trickle to pulse flow in multiphase systems, the two predictive models of Grosser et al. (1988) and Attou & Ferschneider (2000) have been adapted from trickle bed reactors to structured solid foam fixed bed reactors and validated by the experimental transition data. Determining the onset of flow instabilities at different liquid and gas velocities based on different force balances, both models allow the prediction of regime transition by means of known single phase pressure drop, static liquid holdup and characteristic geometric parameters of the solid foam.