Title: DYNAMICS BEHAVIOR OF A CASCADE, CROSS-FLOW, PACKED COLUMN Abstract approved: Redacted for Privacy

The dynamics of a cross-flow, packed tower were in-vestigated as a new alternative for gas-liquid contacting. At the present time there are two methods of gas-liquid contact, co-flow, and counter-flow, both having known limitations. This investigation studies cross-flow contact in an effort to eliminate the lower limits of gas-liquid flow rates which produces flooding in counter-flow columns and to provide more than the one equilibrium stage found in co-flow columns. The experimental cascade, cross-flow column was con-structed of plexiglass. Three different kinds of packing were used in the packed section of the column, and four different baffle spacings were used in this study. An air-water system was used throughout this investigation of pressure drop over the tower at various mass gas and liquid rates. The experimental results for pressure drop were compared with values predicted by a proposed modified-Ergun equation. The experimental pressure drop values were generally higher than the predicted values. Qualitative observations indicate that vigorous bubbling in the liquid holdup on the baffles and agitation of the liquid in the packing provide excellent contact between the gas and liquid phase for mass transfer. DYNAMICS BEHAVIOR OF A CASCADE