Heat transfer in trickle bed column with constant and modulated feed temperature: Experiments and modeling

Heat transfer was investigated in an insulated packed bed column with co-current downflow of gas and liquid under constant and periodically modulated gas–liquid feed temperature. Bed temperatures at three axial positions were assessed at steady state for different insulating systems, different gas and liquid flow rates and system pressure. The experimental profiles recorded were modeled with a dynamic pseudo-homogeneous one parameter model to analyze the effect of operating conditions and to deduce coefficients of overall (U) and bed to wall (hW) heat transfer. It appears that the heat transfer is strongly affected by the system pressure, whereas the liquid flow rate has a smaller influence. The experimental data of hW were correlated with the operating conditions leading to a small average error of 7% in the correlation. Condensation of water vapor occurring in the column seems to contribute to the heat transfer inside the packed bed. Several dynamic experiments modulating the feed temperature were also conducted and described with the help of the dynamic model. Predictions with the fitted values of U were in good agreement with experiments and give confidence to apply this model in the investigation of the catalytic wet air oxidation of phenol over carbon conducted in a trickle bed reactor under temperature feed modulation.