The Liquid Maldistribution Analysis of the Trickle Bed Reactor with the CFD Method

Abstract

The liquid phase maldistribution factor has been investigated in trickle bed reactor, and the results are compared with the previous measurement data from literature by using the Electrical Resistance Tomography. The simulation results are in agreement with the experimental results to some degree. The flow rates and particle sizes have been simulated with the method of multiphase flow. There are two different particles with average diameters of 3.4 mm and 5.3 mm. The flow rate has been studied ranging from 100 ml/min to 1100 ml/min. It has been found that the changes of the particles and liquid flow rates have a significant impact on the distribution of the liquid volume fraction. The internal liquid holdup is more serious, and the wall-flow phenomenon is more obvious in a bigger flow rate. The prediction of the liquid volume fraction distribution is a key research technique. Regression predictions have also been researched on the section near outlet, which can predict the internal flow state of the trickle bed under the condition of high temperature and high pressure. The average liquid volume fraction is linear with flow rates. The maldistribution factor is the index correlation with the flow rates. The results and main conclusions can be used to predict the distributions and get the properties in a trickle bed reactor.