Cocurrent gas—liquid flow in packed columns

A model is proposed for cocurrent gas liquid flow through a packed bed. For a given packing, gas and liquid flow rates, we proposed that (i) liquid holdup is a function only of pressure gradient and liquid flow rate and (ii) pressure gradient is only a function of liquid holdup and gas flow rate. Equations are presented which permit the prediction of pressure gradient and liquid holdup for cocurrent upflow and cocurrent downflow in a packed bed. Predictions from the model are shown to be in reasonable agreement with the experimental observations of Turpin and Huntington.