Experimental Investigations of Foam in Packed Columns

Foam in process engineering can cause severe problems in distillation and absorption towers. Presently, hydrodynamic models cannot consider foaming in respect of process dimensioning. In a proceeding research project, the fluid dynamic performance data (pressure loss, flooding point) of several different mass transfer packings are examined for foaming material systems. The respective origin of foam generation in the packed column is observed separately. A test cell for the qualification of potential foaming material systems adapted on the special demands of packed columns is introduced. Details on the results on the phenology of foaming, on the fluid dynamic performance data of the column operation with foaming material systems and on the experiments of the adapted test cell are given.