Premium
The plug flow model for mass transfer in three‐phase fluidized beds and bubble columns
Author(s) -
AlvarezCuenca M.,
Nerenberg M. A.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
the canadian journal of chemical engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.404
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1939-019X
pISSN - 0008-4034
DOI - 10.1002/cjce.5450590614
Subject(s) - bubble , mass transfer , distributor , fluidized bed , mechanics , plug flow , flow (mathematics) , phase (matter) , spark plug , liquid bubble , materials science , chemistry , thermodynamics , mechanical engineering , engineering , physics , organic chemistry
The plug flow model (PFM), overwhelmingly used to describe mass transfer in bubble columns and three‐phase fluidized beds, has never been critically tested. This study analyzes the PFM single parameter, K L a , to quantify mass transfer in the forementioned systems. Particular attention is paid to the mass transfer features of the zone near the distributor (grid zone) largely ignored until now. This study, carried out under the largest gas and liquid flow rates ever published, for similar types of systems, indicates the presence of two well defined mass transfer zones. These features invalidate, for design purposes, the use of the PFM. However, it still can be used as a qualitative mass transfer indicator. This has permitted a comparison between the mass transfer efficiency of bubble columns and three‐phase fluidized beds with the conclusion that three‐phase fluidized bed of 0.5 cm particles can compete successfully with bubble columns.