Effect of some solid properties on gas-liquid mass transfer in a bubble column

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2011

Authors

Mena, P (Author) Other; Ferreira, A (Author) FEUP; Teixeira, JA (Author) Other; Rocha, F (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Chemical Engineering and Processing - Process Intensification

Vol. 50

Pages: 181-188

ISSN: 0255-2701

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 36 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 50 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Engineering and technology > Environmental engineering

CORDIS: Technological sciences > Engineering > Chemical engineering

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-002-V8A

DOI: 10.1016/j.cep.2010.12.013

Abstract (EN): The knowledge about the effects of solids on gas-liquid systems and the respective physical mechanisms are not yet totally clarified. In this work, the effect of the solids on the mass transfer characteristics in a bubble column was studied experimentally for the systems air/water/expandable polystyrene (EPS) beads and air/water/glass beads. Volumetric liquid side mass transfer coefficient, k(L)a, was determined under different solid concentrations (up to 30 vol.%), superficial gas velocities (up to 2.7 mm/s) and mean diameters (1100, 770 and 591 mu m for EPS and 9.6 mu m for glass beads). The presence of EPS solids affects negatively k(L)a being this effect more pronounced for the smaller particles. Also, a decrease in k(L)a occurs when the solid loading increases. Experiments done with large polystyrene particles (d(p) >= 591 mu m) contaminated with very fine EPS particles (d(p) congruent to 0.1 mu m) indicate that very fine particles play an important role on gas-liquid mass transfer. Mass transfer experiments in a hollow glass spheres three-phase slurry showed a dual effect of solids loading on k(L)a, contrarily to what happens with the previous particles. These results can be associated with the different surface properties of the particles studied. An empirical correlation for k(L)a on the experimental variables was developed.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8