Pressure drop and its reduction of gas–non-Newtonian liquid flow in downflow trickle bed reactor (DTBR)

• The flow regimes in trickle bed with non-Newtonian liquid system and its transition.
• The influences of flow of non-Newtonian liquid and air on pressure drop in DTBR.
• Dynamic interaction model to predict pressure drop within the framework of the momentum balance.
• The non-ideality factor of trickle bed reactor at different flow regimes.
• Pressure drop reduction in trickle bed reactor.

The influences of concurrent flow of air–Newtonian and non-Newtonian liquid systems on pressure drop and on its reduction in downflow trickle bed reactor are presented in the present work. The pressure drop at different flow regimes in the trickle bed is enunciated by the dynamic interaction model based on the framework of the momentum balance. From the analysis, it is observed that the non-ideality factor of bubble flow regime is higher than that of pulse and trickle flow regimes which may influence efficiency of the reactor. The present work also concludes that the percentage of pressure reduction increases with increasing the surfactant concentration. However there is a limitation of change of concentration, above which no more reduction can be obtained. The present study may be useful for further understanding and modelling of multiphase reactor with non-Newtonian liquid, which has great industrial applications.

The article presents (i) the flow regimes in trickle bed with non-Newtonian liquid system and its transition, (ii) the influences of flow of non-Newtonian liquid and air on pressure drop in DTBR, (iii) dynamic interaction model to predict pressure drop within the framework of the momentum balance, (iv) the non-ideality factor of trickle bed reactor at different flow regimes, and (v) pressure drop reduction in trickle bed reactor.Figure optionsDownload high-quality image (101 K)Download as PowerPoint slide