Van Houwelingen, Arie JanNicol, Willie2011-08-242011-08-242011-05Van Houwelingen, AJ & Nicol, W 2011, 'Parallel hydrogenation for the quantification of wetting efficiency and liquid-solid mass transfer in a trickle-bed reactor', AICHE Journal, vol. 57, no.5, pp. 1310-1319.0001-1541 (print)1547-5905 (online)10.1002/aic.12342http://hdl.handle.net/2263/17156A novel method for the measurement of wetting efficiency in a trickle-bed reactor under reaction conditions is introduced. The method exploits reaction rate differences of two first-order liquid-limited reactions occurring in parallel, to infer wetting efficiencies without any other knowledge of the reaction kinetics or external mass transfer characteristics. Using the hydrogenation of linear- and isooctenes, wetting efficiency is measured in a 50-mm internal diameter, high-pressure trickle-bed reactor. Liquid–solid mass transfer coefficients are also estimated from the experimental conversion data. Measurements were performed for upflow operation and two literature-defined boundaries of hydrodynamic multiplicity in trickle flow. Hydrodynamic multiplicity in trickle flow gave rise to as much as 10% variation in wetting efficiency, and 10–20% variation in the specific liquid–solid mass transfer coefficient. Conversions for upflow operation were significantly higher in trickle-flow operation, because of complete wetting and better liquid–solid mass transfer characteristics.en© 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers. This is the pre-peer reviewed version of the following article: Parallel hydrogenation for the quantification of wetting efficiency and liquid-solid mass transfer in a trickle-bed reactor, which has been published in final form at www.interscience.wiley.com.Trickle-bed reactorsLiquid-solid mass transferWetting efficiencyMultiphase reactorsHydrodynamicsTrickle bed reactorsWettingMass transferHydrodynamicsPreprint Article