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Spray—extraction‐tower studies
Author(s) -
Johnson A. I.,
Minard G. W.,
Huang ChenJung,
Hansuld J. H.,
McNamara V. M.
Publication year - 1957
Publication title -
aiche journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.958
H-Index - 167
eISSN - 1547-5905
pISSN - 0001-1541
DOI - 10.1002/aic.690030117
Subject(s) - extraction (chemistry) , tower , volumetric flow rate , mass transfer , heat transfer , work (physics) , yield (engineering) , limiting , thermodynamics , chemistry , flow (mathematics) , acetic acid , mechanics , phase (matter) , materials science , chromatography , mechanical engineering , engineering , physics , structural engineering , organic chemistry
This paper describes further research on a 4‐in. I.D. by 8‐ft. spray tower of Elgin design. Previous work concerned limiting flow and holdup in this tower. Owing to its high capacity and low cost, the spray tower would have much greater commercial application in liquid‐liquid extraction if its conditions of transient operation could be predicted and if it could be operated to yield low H t values. This research attempts to show that transient conditions can be predicted and that low H t values for both mass and heat transfer can be realized near the limiting flow conditions. Theroretical equations for rate of approach to steady state derived and tested for the systems ethylene dichloride–water–propionic acid and ethylene dichloride–water–acetic acid show that the approach depends on the ratio of the phase flow rates. This study is important for the prediction of start‐up time for industrial towers. With the same systems the extraction capacity of the spray tower was investigated up to the condition of rejection. The results were correlated as K E a and H t , OE vs. a function of the ratio of the phase flow rates. The dispersed‐phase flow rate was found to have primary significance. The heat transfer rates between water as continuous phase and solvents of various denisties were correlated as H t ′ values plotted against a function of the ratio of the phase flow rates. The advantages of operation near rejection were demonstrated, and the effect of direction of heat transfer was found to be significant.