Packing & demister pressure drop (fluids.packed_tower)¶
This module contains correlations and functions for calculating pressure drop from packings and demisters; separation efficiency of demisters; demister pressure drop; and demister geometry.
For reporting bugs, adding feature requests, or submitting pull requests, please use the GitHub issue tracker or contact the author at Caleb.Andrew.Bell@gmail.com.
Packing Pressure Drop¶
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fluids.packed_tower.
Robbins
(L, G, rhol, rhog, mul, H=1.0, Fpd=24.0)[source]¶ Calculates pressure drop across a packed column, using the Robbins equation.
Pressure drop is given by:
\[\Delta P = C_3 G_f^2 10^{C_4L_f}+0.4[L_f/20000]^{0.1}[C_3G_f^210^{C_4L_f}]^4\]\[G_f=G[0.075/\rho_g]^{0.5}[F_{pd}/20]^{0.5}=986F_s[F_{pd}/20]^{0.5}\]\[L_f=L[62.4/\rho_L][F_{pd}/20]^{0.5}\mu^{0.1}\]\[F_s=V_s\rho_g^{0.5}\]- Parameters
L : float
Specific liquid mass flow rate [kg/s/m^2]
G : float
Specific gas mass flow rate [kg/s/m^2]
rhol : float
Density of liquid [kg/m^3]
rhog : float
Density of gas [kg/m^3]
mul : float
Viscosity of liquid [Pa*s]
H : float
Height of packing [m]
Fpd : float
Robbins packing factor (tabulated for packings) [1/ft]
- Returns
dP : float
Pressure drop across packing [Pa]
Notes
Perry’s displayed equation has a typo in a superscript. This model is based on the example in Perry’s.
References
- R588
Robbins [Chem. Eng. Progr., p. 87 (May 1991) Improved Pressure Drop Prediction with a New Correlation.
Examples
>>> Robbins(L=12.2, G=2.03, rhol=1000., rhog=1.1853, mul=0.001, H=2.0, Fpd=24.0) 619.6624593438102
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fluids.packed_tower.
Stichlmair_dry
(Vg, rhog, mug, voidage, specific_area, C1, C2, C3, H=1.0)[source]¶ Calculates dry pressure drop across a packed column, using the Stichlmair [R589] correlation. Uses three regressed constants for each type of packing, and voidage and specific area.
Pressure drop is given by:
\[\Delta P_{dry} = \frac{3}{4} f_0 \frac{1-\epsilon}{\epsilon^{4.65}} \rho_G \frac{H}{d_p}V_g^2\]\[f_0 = \frac{C_1}{Re_g} + \frac{C_2}{Re_g^{0.5}} + C_3\]\[d_p = \frac{6(1-\epsilon)}{a}\]- Parameters
Vg : float
Superficial velocity of gas, Q/A [m/s]
rhog : float
Density of gas [kg/m^3]
mug : float
Viscosity of gas [Pa*s]
voidage : float
Voidage of bed of packing material []
specific_area : float
Specific area of the packing material [m^2/m^3]
C1 : float
Packing-specific constant []
C2 : float
Packing-specific constant []
C3 : float
Packing-specific constant []
H : float, optional
Height of packing [m]
- Returns
dP_dry : float
Pressure drop across dry packing [Pa]
Notes
This model is used by most process simulation tools. If H is not provided, it defaults to 1. If Z is not provided, it defaults to 1.
References
- R589(1,2)
Stichlmair, J., J. L. Bravo, and J. R. Fair. “General Model for Prediction of Pressure Drop and Capacity of Countercurrent Gas/liquid Packed Columns.” Gas Separation & Purification 3, no. 1 (March 1989): 19-28. doi:10.1016/0950-4214(89)80016-7.
Examples
>>> Stichlmair_dry(Vg=0.4, rhog=5., mug=5E-5, voidage=0.68, ... specific_area=260., C1=32., C2=7, C3=1) 236.80904286559885
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fluids.packed_tower.
Stichlmair_wet
(Vg, Vl, rhog, rhol, mug, voidage, specific_area, C1, C2, C3, H=1)[source]¶ Calculates dry pressure drop across a packed column, using the Stichlmair [R590] correlation. Uses three regressed constants for each type of packing, and voidage and specific area. This model is for irrigated columns only.
Pressure drop is given by:
\[\frac{\Delta P_{irr}}{H} = \frac{\Delta P_{dry}}{H}\left(\frac {1-\epsilon + h_T}{1-\epsilon}\right)^{(2+c)/3} \left(\frac{\epsilon}{\epsilon-h_T}\right)^{4.65}\]\[h_T = h_0\left[1 + 20\left(\frac{\Delta Pirr}{H\rho_L g}\right)^2\right]\]\[Fr_L = \frac{V_L^2 a}{g \epsilon^{4.65}}\]\[h_0 = 0.555 Fr_L^{1/3}\]\[c = \frac{-C_1/Re_g - C_2/(2Re_g^{0.5})}{f_0}\]\[\Delta P_{dry} = \frac{3}{4} f_0 \frac{1-\epsilon}{\epsilon^{4.65}} \rho_G \frac{H}{d_p}V_g^2\]\[f_0 = \frac{C_1}{Re_g} + \frac{C_2}{Re_g^{0.5}} + C_3\]\[d_p = \frac{6(1-\epsilon)}{a}\]- Parameters
Vg : float
Superficial velocity of gas, Q/A [m/s]
Vl : float
Superficial velocity of liquid, Q/A [m/s]
rhog : float
Density of gas [kg/m^3]
rhol : float
Density of liquid [kg/m^3]
mug : float
Viscosity of gas [Pa*s]
voidage : float
Voidage of bed of packing material []
specific_area : float
Specific area of the packing material [m^2/m^3]
C1 : float
Packing-specific constant []
C2 : float
Packing-specific constant []
C3 : float
Packing-specific constant []
H : float, optional
Height of packing [m]
- Returns
dP : float
Pressure drop across irrigated packing [Pa]
Notes
This model is used by most process simulation tools. If H is not provided, it defaults to 1. If Z is not provided, it defaults to 1. A numerical solver is used and needed by this model. Its initial guess is the dry pressure drop. Convergence problems may occur. The model as described in [R590] appears to have a typo, and could not match the example. As described in [R591], however, the model works.
References
- R590(1,2,3,4)
Stichlmair, J., J. L. Bravo, and J. R. Fair. “General Model for Prediction of Pressure Drop and Capacity of Countercurrent Gas/liquid Packed Columns.” Gas Separation & Purification 3, no. 1 (March 1989): 19-28. doi:10.1016/0950-4214(89)80016-7.
- R591(1,2)
Piche, Simon R., Faical Larachi, and Bernard P. A. Grandjean. “Improving the Prediction of Irrigated Pressure Drop in Packed Absorption Towers.” The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering 79, no. 4 (August 1, 2001): 584-94. doi:10.1002/cjce.5450790417.
Examples
Example is from [R590], matches.
>>> Stichlmair_wet(Vg=0.4, Vl = 5E-3, rhog=5., rhol=1200., mug=5E-5, ... voidage=0.68, specific_area=260., C1=32., C2=7., C3=1.) 539.8768237253518
Packing Flooding¶
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fluids.packed_tower.
Stichlmair_flood
(Vl, rhog, rhol, mug, voidage, specific_area, C1, C2, C3, H=1.0)[source]¶ Calculates gas rate for flooding of a packed column, using the Stichlmair [R592] correlation. Uses three regressed constants for each type of packing, and voidage and specific area.
Pressure drop is given by:
\[\frac{\Delta P_{irr}}{H} = \frac{\Delta P_{dry}}{H}\left(\frac {1-\epsilon + h_T}{1-\epsilon}\right)^{(2+c)/3} \left(\frac{\epsilon}{\epsilon-h_T}\right)^{4.65}\]\[h_T = h_0\left[1 + 20\left(\frac{\Delta Pirr}{H\rho_L g}\right)^2\right]\]\[Fr_L = \frac{V_L^2 a}{g \epsilon^{4.65}}\]\[h_0 = 0.555 Fr_L^{1/3}\]\[c = \frac{-C_1/Re_g - C_2/(2Re_g^{0.5})}{f_0}\]\[\Delta P_{dry} = \frac{3}{4} f_0 \frac{1-\epsilon}{\epsilon^{4.65}} \rho_G \frac{H}{d_p}V_g^2\]\[f_0 = \frac{C_1}{Re_g} + \frac{C_2}{Re_g^{0.5}} + C_3\]\[d_p = \frac{6(1-\epsilon)}{a}\]- Parameters
Vl : float
Superficial velocity of liquid, Q/A [m/s]
rhog : float
Density of gas [kg/m^3]
rhol : float
Density of liquid [kg/m^3]
mug : float
Viscosity of gas [Pa*s]
voidage : float
Voidage of bed of packing material []
specific_area : float
Specific area of the packing material [m^2/m^3]
C1 : float
Packing-specific constant []
C2 : float
Packing-specific constant []
C3 : float
Packing-specific constant []
H : float, optional
Height of packing [m]
- Returns
Vg : float
Superficial velocity of gas, Q/A [m/s]
Notes
A numerical solver is used to solve this model.
References
- R592(1,2,3)
Stichlmair, J., J. L. Bravo, and J. R. Fair. “General Model for Prediction of Pressure Drop and Capacity of Countercurrent Gas/liquid Packed Columns.” Gas Separation & Purification 3, no. 1 (March 1989): 19-28. doi:10.1016/0950-4214(89)80016-7.
Examples
Example is from [R592], matches.
>>> Stichlmair_flood(Vl = 5E-3, rhog=5., rhol=1200., mug=5E-5, ... voidage=0.68, specific_area=260., C1=32., C2=7., C3=1.) 0.6394323542746928
Demister Pressure Drop¶
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fluids.packed_tower.
dP_demister_dry_Setekleiv_Svendsen
(S, voidage, vs, rho, mu, L=1)[source]¶ Calculates dry pressure drop across a demister, using the correlation in [R593]. This model is for dry demisters with no holdup only.
\[\frac{\Delta P \epsilon^2}{\rho_f v^2} = 10.29 - \frac{565} {69.6SL - (SL)^2 - 779} - \frac{74.9}{160.9 - 4.85SL} + 45.33\left( \frac{\mu_f \epsilon S^2 L}{\rho_f v}\right)^{0.75}\]- Parameters
S : float
Specific area of the demister, normally ~250-1000 [m^2/m^3]
voidage : float
Voidage of bed of the demister material, normally ~0.98 []
vs : float
Superficial velocity of fluid, Q/A [m/s]
rho : float
Density of fluid [kg/m^3]
mu : float
Viscosity of fluid [Pa*s]
L : float, optional
Length of the demister [m]
- Returns
dP : float
Pressure drop across a dry demister [Pa]
Notes
Useful at startup and in modeling. Dry pressure drop is normally negligible compared to wet pressure drop. Coefficients obtained by evolutionary programming and may not fit data outside of the limits of the variables.
References
- R593(1,2)
Setekleiv, A. Eddie, and Hallvard F. Svendsen. “Dry Pressure Drop in Spiral Wound Wire Mesh Pads at Low and Elevated Pressures.” Chemical Engineering Research and Design 109 (May 2016): 141-149. doi:10.1016/j.cherd.2016.01.019.
Examples
>>> dP_demister_dry_Setekleiv_Svendsen(S=250, voidage=.983, vs=1.2, rho=10, mu=3E-5, L=1) 320.3280788941329
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fluids.packed_tower.
dP_demister_dry_Setekleiv_Svendsen_lit
(S, voidage, vs, rho, mu, L=1)[source]¶ Calculates dry pressure drop across a demister, using the correlation in [R594]. This model is for dry demisters with no holdup only. Developed with literature data included as well as their own experimental data.
\[\frac{\Delta P \epsilon^2}{\rho_f v^2} = 7.3 - \frac{320} {69.6SL - (SL)^2 - 779} - \frac{52.4}{161 - 4.85SL} + 27.2\left( \frac{\mu_f \epsilon S^2 L}{\rho_f v}\right)^{0.75}\]- Parameters
S : float
Specific area of the demister, normally ~250-1000 [m^2/m^3]
voidage : float
Voidage of bed of the demister material, normally ~0.98 []
vs : float
Superficial velocity of fluid, Q/A [m/s]
rho : float
Density of fluid [kg/m^3]
mu : float
Viscosity of fluid [Pa*s]
L : float, optional
Length of the demister [m]
- Returns
dP : float
Pressure drop across a dry demister [Pa]
Notes
Useful at startup and in modeling. Dry pressure drop is normally negligible compared to wet pressure drop. Coefficients obtained by evolutionary programming and may not fit data outside of the limits of the variables.
References
- R594(1,2)
Setekleiv, A. Eddie, and Hallvard F. Svendsen. “Dry Pressure Drop in Spiral Wound Wire Mesh Pads at Low and Elevated Pressures.” Chemical Engineering Research and Design 109 (May 2016): 141-149. doi:10.1016/j.cherd.2016.01.019.
Examples
>>> dP_demister_dry_Setekleiv_Svendsen_lit(S=250, voidage=.983, vs=1.2, rho=10, mu=3E-5, L=1) 209.083848658307
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fluids.packed_tower.
dP_demister_wet_ElDessouky
(vs, voidage, d_wire, L=1)[source]¶ Calculates wet pressure drop across a demister, using the correlation in [R595]. Uses only their own experimental data.
\[\frac{\Delta P}{L} = 0.002357(1-\epsilon)^{0.375798}(V)^{0.81317} (d_w)^{-1.56114147}\]- Parameters
vs : float
Superficial velocity of fluid, Q/A [m/s]
voidage : float
Voidage of bed of the demister material, normally ~0.98 []
d_wire : float
Diameter of mesh wire,[m]
L : float, optional
Length of the demister [m]
- Returns
dP : float
Pressure drop across a dry demister [Pa]
Notes
No dependency on the liquid properties is included here. Because of the exponential nature of the correlation, the limiting pressure drop as V is lowered is 0 Pa. A dry pressure drop correlation should be compared with results from this at low velocities, and the larger of the two pressure drops used.
The correlation in [R595] was presented as follows, with wire diameter in units of mm, density in kg/m^3, V in m/s, and dP in Pa/m.
\[\Delta P = 3.88178(\rho_{mesh})^{0.375798}(V)^{0.81317} (d_w)^{-1.56114147}\]Here, the correlation is converted to base SI units and to use voidage; not all demisters are stainless steel as in [R595]. A density of 7999 kg/m^3 was used in the conversion.
In [R595], V ranged from 0.98-7.5 m/s, rho from 80.317-208.16 kg/m^3, depth from 100 to 200 mm, wire diameter of 0.2mm to 0.32 mm, and particle diameter from 1 to 5 mm.
References
- R595(1,2,3,4,5)
El-Dessouky, Hisham T, Imad M Alatiqi, Hisham M Ettouney, and Noura S Al-Deffeeri. “Performance of Wire Mesh Mist Eliminator.” Chemical Engineering and Processing: Process Intensification 39, no. 2 (March 2000): 129-39. doi:10.1016/S0255-2701(99)00033-1.
Examples
>>> dP_demister_wet_ElDessouky(6, 0.978, 0.00032) 688.9216420105029
Demister Separation Efficiency¶
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fluids.packed_tower.
separation_demister_ElDessouky
(vs, voidage, d_wire, d_drop)[source]¶ Calculates droplet removal by a demister as a fraction from 0 to 1, using the correlation in [R597]. Uses only their own experimental data.
\[\eta = 0.85835(d_w)^{-0.28264}(1-\epsilon)^{0.099625}(V)^{0.106878} (d_p)^{0.383197}\]- Parameters
vs : float
Superficial velocity of fluid, Q/A [m/s]
voidage : float
Voidage of bed of the demister material, normally ~0.98 []
d_wire : float
Diameter of mesh wire,[m]
d_drop : float
Drop diameter, [m]
- Returns
eta : float
Fraction droplets removed by mass [-]
Notes
No dependency on the liquid properties is included here. Because of the exponential nature of the correlation, for smaller diameters separation quickly lowers. This correlation can predict a separation larger than 1 for higher velocities, lower voidages, lower wire diameters, and large droplet sizes. This function truncates these larger values to 1.
The correlation in [R597] was presented as follows, with wire diameter in units of mm, density in kg/m^3, V in m/s, separation in %, and particle diameter in mm.
\[\eta = 17.5047(d_w)^{-0.28264}(\rho_{mesh})^{0.099625}(V)^{0.106878} (d_p)^{0.383197}\]Here, the correlation is converted to base SI units and to use voidage; not all demisters are stainless steel as in [R597]. A density of 7999 kg/m^3 was used in the conversion.
In [R597], V ranged from 0.98-7.5 m/s, rho from 80.317-208.16 kg/m^3, depth from 100 to 200 mm, wire diameter of 0.2 mm to 0.32 mm, and particle diameter from 1 to 5 mm.
References
- R597(1,2,3,4,5)
El-Dessouky, Hisham T, Imad M Alatiqi, Hisham M Ettouney, and Noura S Al-Deffeeri. “Performance of Wire Mesh Mist Eliminator.” Chemical Engineering and Processing: Process Intensification 39, no. 2 (March 2000): 129-39. doi:10.1016/S0255-2701(99)00033-1.
Examples
>>> separation_demister_ElDessouky(1.35, 0.974, 0.0002, 0.005) 0.8982892997640582
Demister Geometry¶
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fluids.packed_tower.
voidage_experimental
(m, rho, D, H)[source]¶ Calculates voidage of a bed or mesh given an experimental weight and fixed density, diameter, and height, as shown in [R599]. The formula is also self-evident.
\[\epsilon = 1 - \frac{\frac{m_{mesh}}{\frac{\pi}{4}d_{column}^2 L_{mesh}}}{\rho_{material}}\]- Parameters
m : float
Mass of mesh or bed particles weighted, [kg]
rho : float
Density of solid particles or mesh [kg/m^3]
D : float
Diameter of the cylindrical bed [m]
H : float
Height of the demister or bed [m]
- Returns
voidage : float
Voidage of bed of the material []
Notes
Should be trusted over manufacturer data.
References
- R599(1,2)
Helsør, T., and H. Svendsen. “Experimental Characterization of Pressure Drop in Dry Demisters at Low and Elevated Pressures.” Chemical Engineering Research and Design 85, no. 3 (2007): 377-85. doi:10.1205/cherd06048.
Examples
>>> voidage_experimental(m=126, rho=8000, D=1, H=1) 0.9799464771704212
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fluids.packed_tower.
specific_area_mesh
(voidage, d)[source]¶ Calculates the specific area of a wire mesh, as used in demisters or filters. Shown in [R600], and also self-evident and non-empirical. Makes the ideal assumption that wires never touch.
\[S = \frac{4(1-\epsilon)}{d_{wire}}\]- Parameters
voidage : float
Voidage of the mesh []
d : float
Diameter of the wires making the mesh, [m]
- Returns
S : float
Specific area of the mesh [m^2/m^3]
Notes
Should be preferred over manufacturer data. Can also be used to show that manufacturer’s data is inconsistent with their claimed voidage and wire diameter.
References
- R600(1,2)
Helsør, T., and H. Svendsen. “Experimental Characterization of Pressure Drop in Dry Demisters at Low and Elevated Pressures.” Chemical Engineering Research and Design 85, no. 3 (2007): 377-85. doi:10.1205/cherd06048.
Examples
>>> specific_area_mesh(voidage=.934, d=3e-4) 879.9999999999994