Combining Reaction with Distillation: Hydrodynamic and Mass Transfer Performance of Modular Catalytic Structured Packings

The combination of reaction with distillation is an elegant way to intensify a process. To fit the needs of catalytic distillation processes, modular arranged packings are developed to allow certain flexibility with regard to catalyst load in the column. The modular packing is built-up of alternating catalyst containing pockets with corrugated sheets. For design purposes the knowledge of hydrodynamics (dynamic liquid hold-up and pressure drop) and mass transfer efficiency characteristics (HETP) imposed by the internal configuration is vital and lacking in open literature. To overcome this, the geometry based Delft MCSP Model, a parallel column model, is developed to predict the hydrodynamics and mass transfer performance of modular catalytic structured packings (MCSP). The developed model is validated with pilot scale experiments carried out without reaction. This paper discusses the hydrodynamic performance of MCSP; the dynamic liquid hold-up is predicted within 10% and the pressure drop and capacity is well predicted. The HETP is predicted accurately around hydraulic loading of the packed bed.