Hydrodynamics of a packed countercurrent column for the gas extraction

The hydraulic capacity of a countercurrent column with gauze packing was examined at pressures between 8 and 30 MPa and temperatures between 313 and 373 K. The systems used were water + carbon dioxide, aqueous surfactant solution + carbon dioxide, and "Toco", a substance whose physical properties are roughly similar to those of alpha-Tocopherol + carbon dioxide. A distinctive change in the flooding mechanisms from "liquid layer flooding" to "bubble column flooding" was observed at Phi = L/G(rho(G)/rho(L))(0.5) = 0.4. The different liquids, water and "Toco", showed the same flooding behavior, indicating that the influence of the density on the flooding behavior prevails over the influence of any other physical property of the liquid. The foamability of the surfactant solution decreased significantly with increasing pressure-its influence on the flooding behavior could not be proved. The liquid holdup ranged between 2% and 6%. The dry pressure drop adhered to the Ergun equation.