(172b) Evolution of Random Packing Performance with a Focus on Geometry

The geometries of random packings have evolved significantly over the years to offer a broader range of hydraulic and mass-transfer performance. Packings were originally made from local materials, but new generation packings with engineered geometries have been designed and manufactured since the 1950’s to significantly increase specific surface area with improved pressure drop. This presentation will investigate how packing geometry affects form drag and friction drag with the evolution of packings over time, and how they are addressed with fundamental correlations.

Key Words: Random packing, Packed Columns, Pressure Drop, Correlations

*Corresponding author. E-mail: ken.mccarley@fri.org , Phone: 1-405-385-0354, Fax: 1-405-385-0357