m shahrokhifard - iran university of Science &Technology iran
n Kasiri - iran university of Science &Technology iran
j Ivakpour - research institute of petroleum industry
h naziri - azar energy co tabriz iran

Entrainment of liquid being carried over by the gas phase as the focus of the present study, is one the phenomenon which can reduce concentration difference, decreases tray separation efficiency and overall column efficiency and at times may also lead to column failure, hence making it undesirable. Using the Taguchi method, this study analyzes the optimum conditions for minimizing liquid entrainment. The controllable factors used in this study consists of the following: (1) hole diameter; (2) fractional hole area; (3) weir height; (4) liquid flow rate; and (5) gas velocity. Experiments were performed by 2 repeats of each experiment provided by the orthogonal L27 series in Taguchi experimental design thus detecting the signal-noise ratio (S/N). According to the optimum conditions, confirmation experiments were carried out. Using statistical analysis the percentage contribution of each controllable factor was also determined. It was concluded that liquid flow rate and gas velocity are the most influential factors on entrainment, each with an approximate contribution factor of 32%.

liquid entrainment,hydraulic phenomena,taguchi method ,optimization