Experimental and computational fluid dynamics modeling of double-partition divided-wall column for flow hydrodynamics and wall heat transfer characteristics

The aim of this study is to investigate the flow hydrodynamics and wall heat transfer characteristics on the tray of a two-staggered walled region in a double-partition divided-wall column (DPDWC). An experimental setup of DPDWC is designed, and a theoretical temperature gradient (TG) model based on Fourier's equation, which describes the wall heat transfer, is proposed. A coupled computational fluid dynamics-TG model is developed to analyze the heat transfer characteristics across partitions of DPDWC. The effects of liquid velocity, gas velocity, and different wall thermal boundary conditions on the flow and temperature fields are studied. The results indicate that the lack of a gas cone near partitions led to few vertical backflows of the liquid phase on the tray. Furthermore, the TGs near the liquid phase outlet increased with an increase in the liquid phase velocity. This work provides a scope for design and operation of DPDWC for industrial implementation.