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Two‐phase flow and mass transfer in scrubbers
Author(s) -
Schmidt Burkhard,
Stichlmair Johann
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
chemical engineering and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.403
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1521-4125
pISSN - 0930-7516
DOI - 10.1002/ceat.270140303
Subject(s) - mass transfer , scrubber , nozzle , chemistry , mechanics , flow (mathematics) , thermodynamics , volumetric flow rate , chromatography , physics , organic chemistry
Abstract Experimental investigations were carried out in spray scrubbers of different sizes with cocurrent flow of gas and liquid. Of special interest were the local processes in the mass transfer zone. The scrubber was operated with warm water/air system (cooling tower) to obtain detailed information about mass transfer. Air is being humidified with water vapour, which in turn leads to a temperature drop in the liquid. The liquid temperatures are relatively easy to measure and are shown as liquid isotherms. In the case of plug flow, the liquid isotherms should be straight horizontal lines. In reality, significant deviations from plug flow are caused by the transfer of liquid to the walls. A large part of the liquid forms a film flow at the wall. Furthermore, nearly all the mass transfer is completed in the zone of liquid atomization immediately beneath the nozzle. The number of measured transfer units was between 0.5 and 2.0 and was significantly influenced by the liquid flow rate. Based on the improved knowledge of the proceses inside the scrubber, a simplified model has been developed. Since the model simulates all the essential processes inside the mass transfer zone, liquid distribution and mass transfer efficiency can be approximately predicted.