Hydrodynamics of a cocurrent downward liquid–liquid extraction column

Abstract

The present study focuses on the hydrodynamic characteristics of a cocurrent liquid–liquid downward system with perforated distributor. Hydrodynamic variables like pressure drop, phase holdup, drop size distribution and flow regimes are experimentally studied using a kerosene–water system. Two major flow regimes – kerosene continuous and kerosene dispersed – are identified. The effect of water and kerosene velocities on pressure drop and phase holdup in these two regimes is studied. Drop size distribution variation with water velocity is also studied. An empirical correlation is proposed for the dispersed phase holdup, which satisfactorily predicts the experimental data.