CFD simulation and experimental study for two-phase flow through the trickle bed reactors, sock and dense loaded by trilobe catalysts

In this study single and two phase flow through the trickle bed reactor loaded with a two different loading manner, sock and dense, have been investigated numerically and experimentally. The CT-scan imaging and an image processing code have been used for investigation of radial porosity distribution of trilobe catalyst in sock and dense loading procedure in trickle bed reactors and two different correlations have been proposed. These correlations were used in a single and two phase CFD code for prediction of pressure drop of gas flow in dry and prewet trilobe catalyst packed bed and also pressure drop and dynamic liquid holdup for two phase flow. In addition, these variables were studied experimentally with a laboratory scale trickle bed reactor. The results of CFD simulations show a very good agreement with experimental data. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.