A new method to assess liquid distributor quality

Liquid distributors are a key component to optimal performance in packed distillation columns. Their design is commonly based on the drip point density. For modern baffle plate distributors, however this is not appropriate, because the liquid is delivered to the packing in form of drip lines rather than drip points. This problem can be eliminated by analyzing the liquid distribution below the first layer of packing. The ratio of wetted to total geometrical surface is used as a quantitative measure (Wetting Index) to describe distributor performance. It allows comparing different distributor systems, e.g. those with conventional drip points and those with drip lines. The Wetting Index depends on the geometry of the outlet system, the orientation of the distributor relative to the packing and the packing geometry.