Electrical resistance tomography was used to evaluate liquid flow trough a 40 L model digester filled with wood chips. Tests were made with cooked and uncooked chips, both uncompressed and at two levels of chip compression ( giving external liquid void fractions of 0.53, 0.43, and 0.33). The chips were stationary in all tests. Flow situations ( symmetrical and asymmetrical liquid upflow, symmetrical liquid downflow) were studied with liquor recirculated through the downcomer-screen circulation loop. The creation of distinct liquor flow zones both above and below the screen section depended on the ratio of liquor flow in the downcomer-screen circuit to the axial liquor flow ( either upflow or downflow) and did not depend on the level of chip compaction attained. Asymmetrical flows created by closing one-half of the screen set established nonuniform zones within the model digester. The significance of these findings for operating digesters is discussed.