The model of back-flow mixed tanks-in-series used for representing the liquid flow in a reciprocating plate column

The influence of different working parameters (vibration intensity superficial gas and liquid rate and content of the solid phase) on liquid flow in a multiphase (gas-liquid: RPC-II and gas-liquid-solid: RPC-III) reciprocating plate column was analyzed using step-response methods and sorbic acid as a tracer. The liquid flow was determined using a model of N-tanks in series followed by back mixing of the liquid phase between the tanks. The parameters of this model N, a and x were calculated by applying several methods: calculation of the moments of the residence time distribution function for a constant number of tanks in series (N=const) analysis of a set of linear equations for N *const and determination of the minimum of defined goal function using the optimization technique leastsq.m of MATLAB software.