(34a) Experimental Studies of Flow in Trickle Beds

An extensive series of experiments on flow regimes in gas-liquid cocurrent downward flow through a variety of fixed bed materials has been performed. Controlled variables included gas and liquid flow rates, bed porosity, and liquid viscosity. The primary measurement was pressure at various axial locations along the bed. Based on the results of these tests, a larger test apparatus was designed and built to allow measurement of interfacial area between two immiscible liquids in a gas-liquid-liquid flow. The test loop, which was designed to provide an experimental means of varying important parameters while observing reaction rates, has been brought on line. Full independent control of both liquid and gas flow rates has been demonstrated. Loop component flow characteristics have been obtained, and a preliminary operational model has been developed for setting up future experiments. The interfacial areas will be measured by following the progress of an interfacial reaction with known kinetic parameters. The Lewis cell technique has been applied to determine kinetic parameters for the base-catalyzed hydrolysis reaction of fluorescein diacetate occurring at a water/organic interface of known area. Modified Lewis cell techniques were developed and implemented to increase the rate of data collection.