Laboratory data of structured gauze packings as a base for scale-up in distillation

Scale-up of laboratory data for distillation with structured packings is considered. Organic mixtures were rectified in a column with elements of laboratory-scale gauze packing at atmospheric and reduced pressure. The composition was virtually constant for each system and pressure. The correlation of height of the transfer unit for laboratory data is much better assuming a non-negligible resistance in the liquid phase, an important difference compared with available models for commercial columns. Results were compared with data for gauze and corrugated sheet packings in literature to obtain the ratio between efficiencies in both scales. Two equations are proposed for predicting performance of pilot plants with both types of structured packings.