Random Packing — Flooding Velocity (Bain–Hougen)

Flooding gas velocity for random packings using the Bain–Hougen correlation.

Input DataBain–Hougen

Gravity g

m/s²

Dry packing factor a/ε³

m⁻¹

Gas density γg

kg/m³

Liquid density γl

kg/m³

Liquid viscosity μL

mPa·s

Liquid mass flow L

kg/h

Gas mass flow G

kg/h

Constant A (see table)

Bed void fraction ε

m³/m³

Gas volumetric flow Vs

m³/s

Flooding ratio

—

Constant A table (dry packing factor a/ε³ in m⁻¹)

Item	Value
Generic random packing (A = 0.022)	0.022
Reference spreadsheet example (A = 0.204)	0.204

lg[uF²·(a/ε³)·(ρV/ρL)·μL^0.2 / g] = A − K·(L/G)^0.25·(ρV/ρL)^0.125, K = 1.75