Raschig Super-Ring is a modern and high-efficient packing used for intensification of absorption and distillation processes. The aim of this work is to characterize the efficiency of this packing applied to rectification of an important industrial system, ethanol-water, and to compare its efficiency to that of some random packings of the third generation as well as to the structured packing, HOLPACK, which is used in the ethanol production industry. The experiments were carried out in a column installation, 0.213 m in diameter with a packing height of 2.8 m. The column is heated by a number of electrical heaters (total power 45 kW), which can be switched gradually. Operation at total and partial reflux is possible. Eight types of random packings were studied: five types of Raschig Super-Ring, four metallic (with characteristic dimensions 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, and 1") and one of plastic material 0.6"; two types of packing IMTP and one plastic Ralu Flow. Some experiments were conducted at total reflux operation at vapor velocity, 0.253-0.936 m/s, and liquid superficial velocity, 4.44 · 10

A review of research articles dealing with estimation of the rate of gas flow maldistribution in packed-bed columns is presented. The proposed relations for determination of the maldistribution factor are given along with the conditions at which they are obtained. It is shown that the indices of maldistribution are usually based on particular terms, i.e., variation coefficient, dispersion or standard deviation. However, they cannot be regarded as a single indicator of gas maldistribution if the gas flow irregularities are not homogeneously distributed over the cross-section. There is no unified methodology for measuring the gas flow velocity profile. Schemes for measuring the velocity profiles, as well as equations for calculating the maldistribution factor are recommended.

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