A model for flow regime transitions in cocurrent down‐flow trickle‐bed reactors

A study of the nature of interstitial flows within trickle‐bed reactors is presented. Based on physical concepts, a theory is developed to predict the transition boundaries for various flow regimes for nonfoaming liquids. The effects of factors such as bed porosity, size of monodispersed spherical catalyst particles, interfacial tension, viscosity, density, and the gas and liquid flow rates, on flow transitions are considered. Experimental data in the literature are used to confirm the theory and the agreement is good.