Authors:
Xubo Luo
1
;
Jinsheng Sun
1
;
Jichao Ren
2
;
Hong Gao
1
;
Linan Li
1
and
Chuanxin Pan
1
Affiliations:
1
Tianjin University, China
;
2
China Special Equipment Inspection and Research Institute, China
Keyword(s):
Combined Gas Distributor, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Gas Distribution, Mal-distribution Factor, Pressure Drop.
Related
Ontology
Subjects/Areas/Topics:
Application Domains
;
Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
;
Complex Systems Modeling and Simulation
;
Fluid Dynamics
;
Simulation and Modeling
Abstract:
In the chemical and process industries, it is a challenge to achieve a uniform initial gas distribution for the packed column with super large diameter and large feed pipeline. This paper suggests a novel combined gas distributor with a large diameter of 6.2m, which integrates a twin-tangential annular flow vapour horn and a shell vane type inlet device (SchoepentoeterTM, Sulzer Ltd., Switzerland). CFD simulations were carried out to evaluate the performance of the distributor in a column of 6.2m in diameter with a feed pipeline of 3m in diameter. The uniformity of the gas flow on a horizontal plane over the gas distributor was assessed by means of pressure drop and the mal-distribution parameter. Several factors that affect gas distribution, such as the gas inlet velocity, the width of the annular channel，and the split ratio between the radial and annular channels, were analysed comparatively. The gas distribution was found to be more uniform when the annular channel width was 500 m
m and the split ratio was 4. Several structural improvements were suggested with their proof simulations showing the superiority of the improved structures over the prototype.
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