Qualitative and quantitative analysis of liquid flow distribution in SiSiC foams using X-ray tomography

In the recent years, solid foams have attracted engineer’s interest as novel functional internals for different chemical process applications. Beside their potential usage as static mixers, distillation packings and heat transfer equipment, solid foams have been envisaged as single and multiphase catalytic support as well. The present contribution focusses on the investigation of the liquid flow distribution inside SiSiC solid foams operated in co-current downward flow. Time-averaged and dynamic flow behaviour has been studied over wide ranges of gas and liquid su-perficial velocities using the non-invasive ultrafast X-ray tomography system.