The usual design of packed column is based on the assumption that the liquid distributes uniformly over its cross section. But many experiments have shown that there exists a tendency of the liquid to flow along the wall. The loss of efficiency in packed column was mainly associated with liquid channeling at the wall. Therefore the liquid distribution over the packing is important.
In general, the theoretical model for the liquid distribution in a packed column is based on a diffusion equation given by
$\frac{\partial L}{\partial Z} = D(\frac{1}{r} \frac{\partial L}{\partial Z} + \frac{\partial^2L}{\partial r^2}$
In this work the liquid distribution in a packed column is predicted by using the diffusion equation, and the effects of liquid flow rate, packing size, packing shape and material on spread factor D and equilibrium wall flow are studied.
Conclusions obtained in this work are as follows. For the liquid distribution the experimental results agreed well with theoretical curves. Equilibrium wall flow and spread factor D were correlated as follows:
$D = 0.03 \sigma_c^{0.11} S_D^{1.91}$
$\phi_{we} = 0.017 \sigma_c^{-0.4} S_{\phi}^{1.3}$
The effects of liquid flow rate on equilibrium wall flow and spread factor were negligible.
