Extended performance comparison of different pressure drop, hold-up and flooding point correlations for packed columns

Eight correlations for the prediction of pressure drop, liquid hold-up and flooding for packed columns were evaluated in an initial analysis in Wolf-Zoellner et al. 2019. The best predictions were achieved with the Wolf 2014 model and a modified model of Mackowiak 2003 by Wolf- Zoellner. The objective of this work is to extend the performance investigation to other well-known correlations available in literature: Spiegel and Maier 1992, Brunazzi 2002, Bozzano 2007, NNA-Model of Piche 2001, GPDC of Kister 2007, Robbins 1991, Jammula 2014. Therefore, the significant combined databases of the Separation Research Program (SRP) at The University of Texas and the Montanuniversitaet Leoben (MUL) provide the perfect basis to evaluate the correlations. The databases include pressure drop, hold-up and flooding point data for 50 different random (2nd, 3rd and 4th generation) and structured packings (sheet and grid structured packings) for different test systems under absorption and distillation conditions. At present 32 packings are included in the study. Based on this evaluation, the Kister GPDC-charts show the best agreement for pressure drop and flooding point estimation. Generally, all examined models perform well for pressure drop calculation but none of the considered models are able to predict reliable liquid-hold ups. In addition, the overall poor modelling performance involving viscous liquids is obvious and needs further investigations. (C) 2019 Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.