3D CFD modelling of liquid dispersion in structured packed bed column for CO₂ capture

Structured packing has been used for gas-liquid reactions in several industrial processes, including amine-based CO₂ scrubbing. Accurate prediction of flow behaviour within the columns provides a better understanding for process intensification and optimisation, leading to more efficient systems and reduction in capital cost. In this work, three-dimensional (3D) transient Eulerian-Eulerian two-phase flow models were developed to assess mechanical dispersion models for prediction of the liquid dispersion. The present model showed very good agreement with experimental results, but also provided much better predictions compared to two-dimensional (2D) models, indicating the anisotropic behaviour of flow. It was found that an increase in inlet velocity of liquid resulted in a wider dispersion, but with overconcentration on its border. Moreover, it was shown that multiple liquid inlets showed an increase in liquid hold-up, but slightly increased pressure drop along the column, compared to the single liquid inlet.