Horizontal sparged contactor

They also presented the correlations for kLaL in terms of power input per unit volume as, for horizontal sparged contactors,... 

A comparison between a horizontal sparged contactor and a bubble column has been made, and it appears that for a variety of situations, horizontal sparged contactors may prove to be more attractive than bubble columns. 

Further, the liquid-phase backmixing is considerably lower in horizontal sparged contactors compared to that in bubble columns. Some comparison may be valid between horizontal and vertical agitated contactors. 

For all other contactors considered previously, we have used 200% excess oxygen. Hence, the gas utilization efficiency in these contactors is low. Fet us consider a horizontal sparged contactor, which has the advantage of low pressure drops. The following assumptions are made the liquid phase is completely backmixed, and the average pressures can be used (since the pressure drop is small). 

For a foaming system, the value of kip. of 0.02 s appears to be reasonable for a horizontal sparged contactor.) The total volume of dispersion for the horizontal sparged contactor = 333 m. Furthermore, from the earlier section of this case study under Operation of Bubble Column under Pressnre, it can be seen that the total volume of dispersion for the bubble column = 132 m. A comparison between the horizontal sparged contactor and the bubble column can now be made on the basis of the total power consumption. 

The power consumption for the horizontal sparged contactor can be calculated using the following equation ... 

Joshi JB, Sharma MM. (1976) Mass transfer characteristics of horizontal sparged contactors. Trans. Inst. Chem. Eng. (UK), 54(l) 42-53. 

Joshi, J.B. and M.M. Sharma. Mass Transfer Characteristics of Horizontal Sparged Contactors. Trans. Instn. Chem. Engrs 54 (1976) 42-53. 

Horizontal contactors are essentially bubble columns with an aspect ratio less than one, and the gas is sparged at the bottom as turbulent jets. In order to get fairly uniform gas-liquid dispersion, multiple injection points are employed for the gas. The gas-liquid contact can be further improved using impellers (Fig. 33). The impellers are of a modified propeller type and are mounted on a horizontal shaft. 

---