Pressure drop in pulsed extraction columns with internals of discs and doughnuts

A study on the pressure drop in pulsed extraction columns with internals of immobile discs and rings, usually called Discs and Doughnuts Columns (DDC) is carried out. The local pressure at a desired level of the column is obtained by resolving of turbulent flow model based on Reynolds equations coupled with k-epsilon model of turbulence. Consequently, the pressure drop for a column stage or for a unit of column length is determined. The results are used for development of correlations for determination of pressure drop as a function of plate free area, interplate distance and pulsation parameters - amplitude and frequency. Good correspondence to experimental data is observed. The developed quantitative relations are useful for non-experimental numerical optimization of stage geometry in view of lesser energy consumption. (C) 2011 The Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.