Structured packing liquid holdup in cryogenic systems

Experimental results and a theoretical analysis are presented on structured packing liquid holdup under cryogenic conditions. The experimental tests were performed on a novel laboratory unit incorporating a gas lift pump to recirculate the cryogenic liquid in a flow visualization dewar. Holdup is measured by sensing the difference in level in the dewar when the liquid flow is shut off after a constant operation at a given liquid loading. A dimensional analysis is performed to identify the important system properties that affect the liquid holdup. The preliminary experimental data are compared against a correlation developed from the dimensional analysis.