Packed columns mass transfer coefficients

In 1966, in a paper that now is considered a classic, Danckwerts and Gillham [Tmns. Inst. Chem. Eng., 44, T42 (1966)] showed that data taken in a small stirred-ceU laboratoiy apparatus could be used in the design of a packed-tower absorber when chemical reactions are involved. They showed that if the packed-tower mass-transfer coefficient in the absence of reaction (/cf) can be reproduced in the laboratory unit, then the rate of absorption in the l oratoiy apparatus will respond to chemical reactions in the same way as in the packed column even though the means of agitating the hquid in the two systems might be quite different. 

Packed columns are often used for distillation, liquid-liquid extraction, and humidification as well as for gas absorption. The design can be based on overall transfer coefficients or on the number of transfer units and the height of a transfer unit. For distillation or humidification, where the gas phase is continuous and the liquid flows in rivulets over the packing, the mass-transfer coefficients and flooding characteristics are similar to those for gas absorption, and the same generalized correlations would apply. 

To achieve a high mass transfer rate N each factor in (5.4-1) should be large. The driving force (y -y) is high at a conntercurrent flow of gas and liquid. A large interfacial area A is provided by colnmn internals like trays or packings. The mass transfer coefficient qg high valnes if the interfacial area is steadily renewed. All these demands are well met by tray columns and by packed columns. 

To use all of these equations, the heights of the transfer units or the mass transfer coefficients and must be known. Transfer data for packed columns are often measured and reported direcdy in terms of and and correlated in this form against and... 

Experimental Mass Transfer Coefficients. Hundreds of papers have been pubHshed reporting mass transfer coefficients in packed columns. For some simple systems which have been studied quite extensively, mass transfer data may be obtained directiy from the Hterature (6). The situation with respect to the prediction of mass transfer coefficients for new systems is stiU poor. Despite the wealth of experimental and theoretical studies, no comprehensive theory has been developed, and most generalizations are based on empirical or semiempitical equations. 

Other correlations based partially on theoretical considerations but made to fit existing data also exist (71—75). A number of researchers have also attempted to separate from a by measuring the latter, sometimes in terms of the wetted area (76—78). Finally, a number of correlations for the mass transfer coefficient itself exist. These ate based on a mote fundamental theory of mass transfer in packed columns (79—82). Although certain predictions were verified by experimental evidence, these models often cannot serve as design basis because the equations contain the interfacial area as an independent variable. 

In this process, the two streams flow countercurrently through the column and undergo a continuous change in composition. At any location are in dynamic rather than thermodynamic equilibium. Such processes are frequently carried out in packed columns, in which the liquid (or one of the two liquids in the case of a liquid-liquid extraction process) wets die surface of the packing, thus increasing the interfacial area available for mass transfer and, in addition, promoting high film mass transfer coefficients within each phase. 

Lowe and Christie 17 used a 1.3 m square experimental column fitted with a number of different types of packing and measured heat and mass transfer coefficients and pressure... 

Water is to be cooled in a small packed column from 330 to 285 K by means of air flowing countercurrently. The rate of flow of liquid is 1400 cm3/m2 s and the flow rate of the air, which enters at a temperature of 295 K and a humidity of 60%, is 3.0 m3/m2 s. Calculate the required height of tower if the whole of the resistance to heat and mass transfer may be considered as being in the gas phase and the product of the mass transfer coefficient and the transfer surface per unit volume of column is 2 s-1. 

Onda, K., TAKEUCHI, H. and Okumoto, Y. (1968) J. Chem. Eng. Japan 1, 56. Mass transfer coefficients between gas and liquid phases in packed columns. 

Relative Kga valid for all systems controlled by mass transfer coefficient (Kg) and wetted area (a) per unit volume of column. Some variation should be expected when liquid reaction rate is controlling (not liquid diffusion rate). In these cases liquid hold-up becomes more important. In general a packing having high liquid hold-up which is clearly greater than that in the falling film has poor capacity. 

SAHAY, B. N. and SHARMA, M. M. Chem.Eng. Sci. 28 (1973) 41. Effective interfacial areas and liquid and gas side mass transfer coefficients in a packed column. 

The mass transfer coefficients considered so far - namely, kQ,kj, KQ,andKj - are defined with respect to known interfacial areas. However, the interfacial areas in equipment such as the packed column and bubble column are indefinite, and vary with operating conditions such as fluid velocities. It is for this reason that the volumetric coefficients defined with respect to the unit volume of the equipment are used, or more strictly, the unit packed volume in the packed column or the unit volume of liquid containing bubbles in the bubble column. Corresponding to /cg, Kq, and we define k a, k, a, K, /i, and K a, all of which have units of (kmol h m )/(kmol m ) - that is, (h ). Although the volumetric coefficients are often regarded as single coefficients, it is more reasonable to consider a separately from the Ar-terms, because the effective interfacial area per unit packed volume or unit volume of liquid-gas mixture a (m m ) varies not only with operating conditions such as fluid velocities but also with the types of operation, such as physical absorption, chemical absorption, and vaporization. 

With regards to handling data on industrial apparatus for gas-liquid mass transfer (such as packed columns, bubble columns, and stirred tanks), it is more practical to use volumetric mass transfer coefficients, such as KqU and K a, because the interfacial area a cannot be well defined and will vary with operating conditions. As noted in Section 6.7.2, the volumetric mass transfer coefficients for packed columns are defined with respect to the packed volume - that is, the sum of the volumes of gas, liquid, and packings. In contrast, volumetric mass transfer coefficients, which involve the specific gas-liquid interfacial area a (L L 5), for liquid-gas bubble systems (such as gassed stirred tanks and bubble columns) are defined with respect to the unit volume of gas-liquid mixture or of clear liquid volume, excluding the gas bubbles. In this book, we shall use a for the specific interfacial area with respect to the clear liquid volume, and a for the specific interfacial area with respect to the total volume of gas-liquid mixture. 

Finally, in Fig. 3.4-12 [24], a comparison is given for the overall, gas-based, mass transfer coefficient for several liquid-to-gas and solid-to-gas packed beds and column systems. In Fig. 3.4-12, for a given data point, the vertical distance up to the Tan et al. [27] correlation (which is for a solid-to-fluid boundary layer) would provide a measure of the liquid-side mass-transfer resistance associated with the liquid. This is so because amount of the large gas... 

Fig. 3.4-12. Comparison of the overall, gas-based, mass-transfer coefficient for several liquid-to-gas and solid-to-gas packed beds and column systems [24] with permission of Pergamon Press...

The influence of pressure on the mass transfer in a countercurrent packed column has been scarcely investigated to date. The only systematic experimental work has been made by the Research Group of the INSA Lyon (F) with Professor M. Otterbein el al. These authors [8, 9] studied the influence of the total pressure (up to 15 bar) on the gas-liquid interfacial area, a, and on the volumetric mass-transfer coefficient in the liquid phase, kia, in a countercurrent packed column. The method of gas-liquid absorption with chemical reaction was applied with different chemical systems. The results showed the increase of the interfacial area with increasing pressure, at constant gas-and liquid velocities. The same trend was observed for the variation of the volumetric liquid mass-transfer coefficient. The effect of pressure on kia was probably due to the influence of pressure on the interfacial area, a. In fact, by observing the ratio, kia/a, it can be seen that the liquid-side mass-transfer coefficient, kL, is independent of pressure. 

The design of packed column reactors is very similar to the design of packed columns without reaction (Volume 2, Chapter 12). Usually plug flow is assumed for both gas and liquid phases. Because packed columns are used for fast chemical reactions, often the gas-side mass transfer resistance is significant and needs to be taken into account. The calculation starts on the liquid side of the gas-liquid interface where the chemical reaction rate constant is compounded with the liquid side mass transfer coefficient to give a reaction-enhanced liquid-film mass transfer... 

Chiang, P.-C., Hung, C.H., Mar, J.C., Chang, E.E. (1998) Henry s law constants and mass transfer coefficients of halogenated organic pollutants in an air stripping packed column. Water Sci. 38, 287-294. 

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