Cross-current flow

The cooling tower cools hot water with cool air by countercurrent (or cross-current) flow of the two fluids past each other in a tower filled with packing. This involves both mass and heat transfer. The water surfeice that exists on the tower packing is covered with an air film assumed to be saturated at the water temperature. The heat is transferred between this film and the main body of air by diffusion and convection. Detailed presentations of the development of cooling tower theory are given in References 39 and 46. 

The introduction of this valve and the fact that the stationary phase is packed into fixed beds offers a great variety of possible column interconnections. Beside the pure cross current flow, as it is realised in the annular chromatograph, columns can be connected very flexibly in series or parallel, allowing a multitude of different process set-ups (Fig. 5.16). Different sections can be realised to fulfil special tasks within the process. Common sections are ... 

Cross-current flow in which the direction of the feed stream is perpendicular to the sludge stream... 

Figure 5. Non-uniformity of plate operation with cross-current flow (a) longitudinal non-uniformity in gas flow,(b)transverse non-uniformity in liquid flow,...

An analogous solution has been found 1136] also for a cross-current flow model with the result that this model requires higher solvent consumption and Is thus less advantageous. 

Most mass transfer equipments consist of gas (vapor) and liquid two-phase flow, for instance, vapor-liquid two-phase cross-current flow is undertaken in tray distillation column gas-liquid two-phase countercurrent flow is taken place in packed absorption column. Some processes may also include solid phase, such as adsorption or catalytic reaction. Thus, the fluid system may contain gas and liquid two phases, or gas, liquid single phase besides solid phase. 

Fig. 10. Stream flow over (a) a broad-crested, rectangular weir (b) a cross-current view of the rectangular and CipoUetti weirs (c) a trape2oidal-notch or CipoUetti weir (d) a sharp-crested, triangular, or V-notch weir (e) a cross-current view of the V-notch and hyperboHc-notch weirs and ( a...

Busbars. Fitting the tank for d-c power is usually accompHshed usiag round copper busbars, both for supporting the anodes and the work or cathodes. Size of the copper bus is determined by the amount of current flow expected 1000 amperes requires about 6.5 cm of cross-sectional area. The bus is iasulated from the tank, and any other sources of grounding, and coimected to the d-c power supply. Shorter distances from the tank as well as fewer electrical connections keeps the voltage drop to a minimum. 

The best known use of the hairpin is its operation in true counter-current flow which yields the most efficient design for processes that have a close temperature approach or temperature cross. However, maintaining countercurrent flow in a tubular heat exchanger usually implies one tube pass for each shell pass. As recently as 30 years ago, the lack of inexpensive, multiple-tube pass capability often diluted me advantages gained from countercurrent flow. 

A direct current flows in the installations during operation of cathodic protection stations therefore, the transformer-rectifier must be switched off when pipes are out or other work on the fuel installation is carried out, and the separated areas must be bridged with large cross-section cables before the work is started in order to avoid sparking that could come from the current network. 

For counter-current flow of the fluids through the unit with sensible heat transfer only, this is the most efficient temperature driving force with the largest temperature cross in the unit. The temperature of the outlet of the hot stream can be cooler than the outlet temperature of the cold stream, see Figure 10-29 ... 

Eor co-current flow (see Eigure 10-29B), the temperature differences will be (Tj — p), and the opposite end of the unit will be (Tg — tg). This pattern is not used often, because it is not efficient and will not give as good a transfer and counter-currenC flow. Because the temperature cannot cross internally, this limits the cooling and heating of the respective fluids. Eor certain temperature controls related to the fluids, this flow pattern proves beneficial. 

Since grid material is converted into lead dioxide, a slight increase in the actual capacity is often observed with lead-acid batteries. The reduced cross-section in Fig. 9 does not affect the performance of batteries that are used for discharge durations in the order of one hour or more. Attention must, however, be paid to batteries that are loaded with high currents, because the conductivity of the grid gains importance with increased current flow. 

Conductivity is a very important parameter for any conductor. It is intimately related to other physical properties of the conductor, such as thermal conductivity (in the case of metals) and viscosity (in the case of liquid solutions). The strength of the electric current I in conductors is measured in amperes, and depends on the conductor, on the electrostatic field strengtfi E in tfie conductor, and on the conductor s cross section S perpendicular to the direction of current flow. As a convenient parameter that is independent of conductor dimensions, the current density is used, which is the fraction of current associated with the unit area of the conductor s cross section i = I/S (units A/cnF). 

The area of contact between two different types of conductors is a special place in any circuit. The character of current flow in this region depends on the phases in contact. The simplest case is that of contact between two metals. In both conductors the conduction is due to the same species (i.e., electrons). When current crosses the interface, the flow of electrons is not arrested aU electrons, which come from one of the phases freely, cross over to the other phase on their arrival at the interface. No accumulation or depletion of electrons is observed. In addition, current flow at such a junction will not produce any chemical change. 

More complex phenomena occur when current crosses interfaces between semiconductors. The most typical example is the rectification produced at interfaces between p- and n-type semiconductors. Electric current freely flows from the former into the latter semiconductor, but an electric field repelling the free carriers from the junction arises when the attempt is made to pass current in the opposite direction Holes are sent back into the p-phase, and electrons are sent back into the n-phase. As a result, the layers adjoining the interface are depleted of free charges, their conductivities drop drastically, and current flow ceases ( blocking the interface). 

In all cases the electrode reaction secures continuity of current flow across the interface, a relay type of transfer of charges (current) from the carriers in one phase to the carriers in the other phase. In the reaction, the interface as a rule is crossed by species of one type electrons [e.g., in reaction (1.22)] or ions [e.g., in reaction (1.21)]. 

Electrode Potentials During Current Flow At nonzero current, the flow of charges crossing the interface in one direction is larger than that crossing it in the other direction ... 

Current flow in a pore of length I and total cross section S produces an ohmic potential drop in the solution, which is the streaming potential ... 

Figure 12.18. Temperature profiles (a) Counter-current flow (/>) 1 2 exchanger (c) Temperature cross...

An economic exchanger design cannot normally be achieved if the correction factor Ft falls below about 0.75. In these circumstances an alternative type of exchanger should be considered which gives a closer approach to true counter-current flow. The use of two or more shells in series, or multiple shell-side passes, will give a closer approach to true counter-current flow, and should be considered where a temperature cross is likely to occur. 

When the fluid being vaporised is a single component and the heating medium is steam (or another condensing vapour), both shell and tubes side processes will be isothermal and the mean temperature difference will be simply the difference between the saturation temperatures. If one side is not isothermal the logarithmic mean temperature difference should be used. If the temperature varies on both sides, the logarithmic temperature difference must be corrected for departures from true cross- or counter-current flow (see Section 12.6). 

The final step is a hydrolyzing step with sulfatase enzymes (E.C. number 3.1.6.1), such as limpet sulfatase, Aerobacter aerogenes sulfatase, Abalone entrail sulfatase, or Helixpomatia sulfatase. This step was suggested to be carried out in a CSTR or fluidized bed reactors, with counter-current flow between the aqueous and the oil phase. A more efficient removal of the sulfate into the aqueous stream is expected to occur in this cross-flow manner. A final separation of the reacting mixture was suggested to obtain sulfur-free product and aqueous enzyme solution for recycle. 

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