1 reply to this topic

[redlakerol]

Hey all,

 

I am researching on random packings for distillation column and came across this "The smaller the packing is more efficient, however pressure drop increases". Can someone help to elaborate why does pressure drop increases? I am quite confused with the term pressure drop in this context. thx!

[PingPong]

The smaller the packing size, the larger the specific surface area (m²/m³ or ft²/ft³) of that packing.

 

More packing surface area means more contact area between vapor and liquid. That results in a higher heat and mass transfer efficiency (lower HETP, lower HTU). But, for the same column diameter, it also gives more pressure drop per meter packing height.

 

Using smaller packing size (for example IMTP40 instead of IMTP50) means that you need less packing height (for the same number of theoretical stages), but a bigger column diameter to avoid too high pressure drop that would cause flooding.