High quality Liquid Distributors in Metal and Plastics

High quality liquid distributors are designed for the individual application. They ensure optimized distribution of liquid even under critical operating conditions and thus an optimal mass transfer effect of the packed bed. Owing to the more complex design work they involve, they cause greater costs and longer delivery times. They can be used both under standard conditions (2 to 80 m³/m²/h) and even with very small (0.025 to 2 m³/m²/h) and very large liquid loads (over 80 up to 300 m³/m²/h).

Definition of a High quality Liquid Distributors

A high quality liquid distributor ensures a largely homogeneous distribution of liquid over the column cross-section. The distribution quality of liquid distributors can be examined on a test-bed designed especially for this purpose. A prime feature of high quality liquid distributors is that the deviation in the volume rates from the discharge holes is a minimum. This applies to the entire load range of a distributor.

The number of distribution points per m² of cross-sectional area of the column is adapted to the type of packing used. The greater the geometric surface area of a packed bed, the more drip points are created. For instance, in structured packings with a geometric surface area of 250 m²/m³ over 200 drip points per m² of cross-sectional area of the column can be provided.

Furthermore, a high quality liquid distributor ensures minimum entrainment, for instance by means of downcomer pipes guiding the liquid directly to the packed bed. As a result, the exit orifices for the liquid are far from the narrow flow cross-section between the distributor troughs in which high flow velocities of the gas or vapor flow favor entrainment. Furthermore, the supply of liquid takes place far from the areas of great inflow turbulence of the gas flow in the narrow spaces between the risers which in no rare cases cause irregular turbulence of the liquid.

Optimized design can pay special attention to blockage problems.

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