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MASS TRANSFER IN PACKED COLUMNS:

CO-CURRENT
(DOWNFLOW)
OPERATION*
1 m. AND 15 m
METAL PALL RINGS AND CERAMIC INTALOX
SADDLES.
MULTIFILAMENT
GAUZE PACKINGS IN 20 cm AND
38 cm I.D. COLUMNS

V V MAHAJANI and M M SHARMA


Department

of Chemical

Technology, Umverslty
(Recewai

of Bombay,

Matunga Road, Bombay

400019, India

19 February 1979)

Abstract-The
theory of gas absorption
accompamed
by fast pseudo-mth
order reaction was used to obta,n
values of effective mterfaclal area, a, m 20 and 38 cm I d packed columns which were operated co-currently
(downflow)
Values of a were obtamed for 1 m and 15 m metal Pall rmgs. 1 m stamless steel Pall rmgs, havmg
length (height) to diameter ratlo of 1 0, 0 75, and 0 5. 1 m and 1 5 m ceranuc ItaIox saddles, and stamless steel
muMlament
wue gauze type packmg over a wrlde range of gas and hqurd superticutl veloclttes The gas superficial
velocity was vaned from 30 to 255 cmlsec m the 20 cm I d column and 14 to 73 cmlsec m the 38 cm I d column
The hquld superficial velocity was vaned from 0 2 to 3 cmlsec m the 20 cm Ld column and 0 2 to 1 cmlsec m the
38 cm I d column Merent
flow regunes. namely, tnckle flow (film flow), pulse flow and transItion from pulse to
disperse flow, were covered The values of a were found to be m the range of 0 6 to 2 cmz/cm3 for the tickle Row
(film flow) regme, and 2 4-5 cm2/cm3 for the pulse Aow remme In the case of multifilament wye gauze packmg
(MFWGP) remarkably high values of a up to 16 cm/cm were obtamed m the pulse to drsperse Row regune
INTRODUCTION

Intalox saddles and Pall rmgs This size of packmg


appears to be very extensively used m mdustnal practice For ths purpose, a 38 cm 1 d perspex column was
used It was also thought desirable to work wth 1 m
nominal size &unless steel (s s ) Pall rmgs (m the 20 cm
I d column) vvlth tierent
height to diameter ratro to
assess the advantages that are hkely to accrue by usmg
lower height to diameter ratio packmgs In add&Ion to
the above, it was thought desirable to study the performance charactertstlcs of s s multdilament wue gauze
packmg m the 20cm 1 d column Such packings have
been used m dlsbllation but apparently data on a for
absorption for such type of packmgs are lacking

Packed absorption columns can be operated m the coun-

ter-current as well as the co-current manner In the case


of

physuxl

absorption

the

counter-current

mode

of

this mode of operation


results m higher mean concentration
dnvmg force as
compared to that offered by the co-current mode of
operation However, when absorption IS accompamed by
an ureverslble chenucal reactIon between the dissolved
solute gas and the reactive species m the absorbent, then
there 1s no dtierence m the mean concentration dnvmg
force offered by the two modes of operation Further,
the capacity of the column, when operated m the cocurrent manner, IS not lmuted by the phenomenon of
flooding encountered m the counter-current mode of
operation Thus, the co-currently operated columns can
be advantageously used m the chemical process mdustnes for a wide range of gas-hqmd reactions Shende
and Sharma[ 1] have shown that, under otherwlse umform condltlons, m the film flow regune, at h&er values
of gas super&al
velocity, the co-current mode of
operation mves 1520% h&er values of effective mterfacial area, a, compared to the values obtamed m the
counter-current mode of operation
Fukushuna and Kusuka[2] have empulcally correlated
data published by various workers on effective mterfacial area, a, m co-currently operated (dowuflow)
packed columns The packmgs used m the above study
were mostly m the form of spheres, Raschlg rmgs and
saddles and the maxunum nommal sme of the packmgs
was 1 in
It was thought desuable to obtam data for 15 m SE
operation

IS usually

adopted

as

THlWJRETK!AL CONSIDERATIONS

AND

METHODOF ANALYSIS
The system used to obtam values of effective mterfacial area, a, was au oxidation of alkahne aqueous
solutions of s&urn dithlomte Jhavert and Sharma[3]
have stu&ed the kmetics of tlus system It was observed
that for sodium dlthlomte concentrations below 0 08 x
lo- g mole/cm3, the reaction IS zero order wth respect
to oxygen and iirst order with respect to &tbomte The
change m partml pressure of oxygen, when very high
flow rates of SUTwere used, was msdcant
Thus, It IS
not necessary to use a ngorous expressron takmg mto
account the change m the partml pressure of oxygen over
the length of the column A materud balance over a
d&renti
element of he&t, dh, mves

L g
941

= ad(2m*B)

(1)

942

V V

MAHAJANI

and M M

SHARMA

where, L = hqud flow rate, cm?sec, B = concentration


of reactive species, (Sodmm dlthlomte), g mole/cm, a =
effecttve
tnterfacml area, cm2/cm3, D = dtiusmty,
cm2/sec, A* = mterfacml solute gas concentration m
hqmd phase, g mole/cm, S = cross secttonal area of the
column, cm, k = reaction rate constant, set-
Integratmg eqn (1) over the packed he&t, H, and
rearrangmg, we get
a=

=0&S) - t/(&d)
SHX2M*)

Equation (2) was used to obtam the values of effective


mterfacial area, a
The samples were analyzed for sodium dithromte contents of aqueous solutions m accordance wrth the procedure reported by the Committee
of Analytical
Methods [4]

A schematlc *am
of the expenmental set-up IS
shown m Fig 1 Two perspex columns of 20 cm I d and
38 cm I d were used A umform hqmd dlstrrbution over
the packmgs was ensured by usmg arm type of dlstnbutors The distibutor for the 2Ocm I d column was
provided Hrlth 182 holes of 2mm dia and 136 hoIes of
1 mm dia , the dlstnbutor used for the 38 cm I d column
was provided mfh
147 holes each of 3mm dla
(- 1300 pomts/m2) The gas and ltqmd were introduced
from the top of the column and were taken out from the
bottom
An was supphed through an air blower (centifugal
type) and the flow rates were measured through precalibrated rotameters
The liquid absorbent (0 5 x
lo- g mole/cm3 NaOH solution contammg Na2S20rl) was
pumped from a stamless steel tank and was metered
through a pre-cahbrated rotameter The columns were
packed and operated m accordance with the standard
procedures Table 1 lists the charactenshcs of packmgs
employed m this work The height of packmg m the
20 cm 1 d column was between 3 and 6 times the column
diameter and that m the 38 cm 1d column was about 4
times the column diameter It was ensured that the
contibution due to end effects was minimum and m all
probabdlty did not exceed 10%
The gas and hqmd phases were assumed to flow
through the column m the plug flow manner The maxlmum level of conversion m the hqmd phase was 40% and
it IS most unhkely that any departure from plug flow
behaviour of the liquid phase would cause an error of
more than 2 to 3% m the values of a, m the case of the
gas phase, the % conversion of O2 was msrgmficant
-TS

AND DISCUSSIONS

1 in slamfess steel Pall nngs

Fmre 2 shows the vartatlon of effective interfacial


area as a function of gas and liquid superficml velocity
for 1 m &unless steeI Pall rings m the 20 cm 1 d column
Experimental data were obtamed m the pulse flow
remme as the tnckle flow repme has been covered by

Rg 1 Expenmental set-up 1 packed column, 2 hquld samplmg device. 3 rotameter for bquld. 4 rotameter for gas
5 hquld dlstnbutor. 6 gas distnbutor
Table 1 Packmg charachenshcs
Column
cm,ld
20
20
20
38
20
38
20

Packmg density
Number of
pieces
X lO+lper m3

Type of packmg

1m s s Pall rmgs
502
1 in dta x 0 75 m height
67 5
(length) s s Pall rings
1 m dia x 0 50 m herght
1136
(length) s s Pall rings
I 5 in mild steel Pall rings
14 9
1fn ceramic Intalox saddles
814
1 5 in ceramic Intalox saddles
255
Multifilament wue gauze paclung
4 uluts
(stamless steel 304)
SWG
=41
Number of filaments
= 12
Density of packmg
matenal
= 432 kg/m3

Voidage
hameter
Height

-095
= 20cm
= 16cm

Shende and SharmaCl] The hquld super&al


velocity
was vmed from 1 8 to 3 0 cmlsec while that of gas from
200 to 255 cm/set In the pulse flow regme the values of
a obtamed are substantially higher than those obtamed m
the film or tnckle flow regime by Shende and Sharma[l]
The maxlmum values of a m the pulse and trrckle flow
regme were 5 0 and = 2 0 cm2/cm3, respectively
L
I m starnless steel Pall rings having the same diameter
but deferent height to drameter ratio
Figure 3 shows the vmation of a as a function of
hqutd superficml velocity for stamless steel Pall rings
havmg the same diameter (1 in ) but different height
(length) to diameter ratio of 1 0, 0 75 and 0 5 m the 20 cm
I d column The gas supeficml velocity was 200 cmlsec
The flow re@me observed was tnckle (film) flow There
1s a margmal mcrease m a values as height to diameter
ratio 1s reduced from 1 to 0 5, under otherwlse uniform
conditions The maxlmum Increase m the values of a m
the range of V, and V,_ covered was 12% Thus, It IS
doubtful whether from mass transfer pomt of view
stainless steel Pall nngs urlth lower height to diameter

Mass transfer m packed columns


l.lOUlD

SUPERFICIAL
0.5
I

VELOCITY * 1 ,ccn/ac
1-o
I

LIQUID

SUPERFICIAL

l-5
I

I
3-O

I
25

I
20

2.

943

05

VELOCITY ,$,cm/s8c

Rg 2 Effect of gas and llquld superlic~al velocity on effective mterfaclal area for WIOUS packmgs Curve A (0)
V, = 2W cm/see, Curve B (0) V, = 255cm/set For 1in s s Pall rings m the 20 cm I d column Curve C (0)
V, = 200 cm/set, Curve D (0) V, = 255 cmlsec For I m ceranuc Intalox saddles in the 20 cm I d column Curve
E Cn Vc = 14, 53,73 cm/set For 15 m m s 8 Pall rmgs m the 38 cm 1d column Curve F (V) Vo = 73 cmlsec,
Curve G (v) Vc = 53 cm/set, Curve H (A) VC = 14cm/sec For 1 5 in ceranuc Intalox saddtes m the 38 cm I d
column

O-61
Da

01
LIQUID

02

03

SUPERFlClAL

06

VELOCITY,

V, ,cm

Oh

o-5

07

06

/SW

FK 3 Effect of llquld supeticlal velocity on effective mterfaclal area for stamless steel pa11rings having the same
1d but d&rent &tit
to duuneter rat10 m the 20 cm I d column The gas supe&aa~ velocity was ~0 cdsec
Curve A (0) he%W&ameter = I, Curve E (0) hetgbt/dlameter = 0 75, Curve C (Cl) helght/dlameter = 0 5
ratlo would be really attractive for the range of V,J and
VL covered III thrs work
The vanatlon III a values as a functton of gas and
hquld superkal velocity m the fdm (tnckle) flow regme
IS shown m Table 2 for 1 III dla and 0 5 m length s s
Pall rmgs (Data for these packmgs and some other
packings reported later show sunk trends as III Fu 2

for I m and 15 III nommal size packmgs Therefore to

avold large number of 6gures the pertment mformation


has been reported III Tables 2 and 3 ) The gas superfkxal
velocxty was vaned from 32 to 200cm/set.and the hquld
superliclal velocity was vaned from 0 2 to 0 8 cm/set
Table 3 shows the correlation for a as a function of gas
and lzwd superficial veloczty for the above packmE!s(s s

._ - - - -

._.___

Packtng

_-_

_ _

5 I m ceraaucIntalox
saddles
6 15mceraauc
I&lox saddles

3 lm XO75m
(he&t)s s
Psllrings
4 15m ms Pallnags

1 lm ss Pallrmgs
2 lm xO5m (he@)
s s Pallnngs

No

.~-I_

Tnckle
(film)
flow

Tnckle
(film)
flow
Pulse
14-73

200-255

14-73

57-200

ii?
Tackle
E;)

velocity,

velocity,
VG,
cmlsec
20&255
32-200

superfhal

SUphI

0349

18-32

0 17-086

011-156

18-31
008-124

cmlsec

VL,

Rangeof
bqmd

Rangeof
gas

Pulse
Tnckle

Flow
regune
(observed)

0 769

0 265

1168

0 835

0146
085

Table2 Correlation
of a data a = CVL*VJ

__

0397

0874

0 382

0462

06
0446

0081

0 32

0 033

0115

052
0115

OoOl5

00016

00011

00037

0 0010
00044

0 955

0%2

0983

0971

0982
0976

Coetliclent
ofmulhple
ViUlanCe detemunation

94s

Mass transfer m packed columns


Table 3 Correlation of a data
Flow remme Pulse, a = m4*ReLDReoP

No

1
2
3

Packing

I In X I in

height s s
Pall rmgs
Im xO75m
height s s
Pall rings
Im XOSm
height s s
Pall rings

Range of
gas
superticlat
velocity,

Range of
hquld
superlicial
velocity,

VG.

VI_,

cm/ set

cmlsec

200-255

18-3

6 28

95 5-200

16-3

471

95 S-200

I 7-3

3 14

4b

4 05 x to-2

Pall rings 1 m dla and 0 5 m length) m the pulse flow


regme The gas superficial velocity was vaned from 95
to 200 cm/set and the hquld superticuil velocity was
varied from 1 7 to 3 0 cmlsec
Tables 2 and 3 show the correlation for a values as a
function of gas and hqmd superficial velocity for 1 m
dla and 0 75 m length s s Pall rings for the film (tnckle)
flow and the pulse flow remme, respectively
The gas
superfictal velocity
was vaned from 57cm/sec
to
2OOcmlsec and the hqtud superficial velocity was vaned
from 0 1 to 3 0 cmlsec m the 20 cm t d column For VG
values up to 95 cm/set the gas supezficlal velocity does
not have any effect on a m the film (tnckle) flow reme
However, at a V. of 2OOcmlsec the gas superficxtl
velocity shows some effect on a m the film (tnckle) flow
regime

1 5 in mdd steel Pall rings


Figure 2 shows a plot of effective interfacial area
against hqutd superficial velocity for 1 5 m m s Pall
nngs wth gas superficral veloctty as a parameter m the
38 cm I d column The liquid superficial velocity was
vaned between 0 17 and 0 86 cm/set It IS seen that for
I 5 m m s Pall rmgs the gas superficial veloctty does not
have any effect on a when the gas superficial velocity
was varied from 14 to 73 cm/set In this range of operatmg condttlons the film (tnckle) flow regime was encountered
1 m ceramtc Intalox saddles
Figure 2 shows the vanatlon of effective InterfacIal
area, a, as a function of gas and hquld superfictal velocity
for 1 in ceramic Intalox saddles m the 20 cm t d column
Expenmental
data were obtamed m the pulse flow
regme as the film (trickle) flow regune has been covered
by Shende and Sharma [ 11 The hquld superfictal velocity
was varied from 18 to 3 0 cm/set while that of gas from
200 to 255 cmlsec The maximum value of a obtamed m
the pulse flow remme was 4 10 cm/cm
1 5 in ceramic Zntaiox saddles
Figure 2 shows the vanatlon of effective tnterfacml
area a values vvlth hquld superficial velocrty for 1 5 In
ceramic Intalox saddles with gas superficml
velocity as a

-0243

Vanance

Coefficient
of multiple
determmatlon

0 817

0 0616

0005

0 895

parameter m the 38 cm I d column The hqmd superficial


velocity was vaned from 0 15 to 0 9 cmlsec and that of
gas from 14 to 73 cmisec In this range of operatutg
condttlons the film (tnckle) flow reqme was encountered
It 1s seen that the gas superficial velocity m the above
range shows some effect m the values of a The maxlmum increase in the value of a was about 20% This IS
mainly due to thmnmg and spreadmg of hquld film over
the packmgs Aqueous solutions have better wettablhty
for ceramic packings than that for mild steel packmgs
Muhfiiament wwe gauze packings (MFWGP)
Ftgure 4 shows the vanatron m a values as a function
of hquld superficial velocity for s s multdilament wue
gauze type packmgs The gas superficial velocity was
vaned from 83 to 255 crn/sec and the hqurd superficial
velocity was vaned from 0 6 to 3 1 cm/set The values of
a obtamed m the tnckle (film) flow regime, are practically
the same as those obtained by Sawant and Pangarkar[5]
for the counter-current mode of operation m the range of
V, where VF does not have any slgmficant effect on a
In the pulse flow remme and pulse to disperse flow
regme,
the values of a obtamed were relatively very
high Values of a as high as 16cm2/cm3 were obtained
These are probably the hzghest values of a so far reported for any packmgs m the above flow remme For some
typrcal combinations of gas and hquld flow rates there
was a considerable fluctuation m the gas side pressure
drop The above experiments were camed out m the
20cm 1 d column usmg 4 units (20 cm dla x 16cm m
length) of the packmgs It 1s known that the performance
of these types of packtngs largely depends on how
effectively the liquid IS dlstnbuted over the column crosssectlon It would be desirable to obtam data from larger
size column wth these packings
Correlatron of data
The data on effective mterfaclal area values for
different packmgs were correlated by the followmg
empn?cal equation
a = CVL5 Voe
where, V, = liquid superficial velocity, cmjsec,

(3)
VG = gas

V
LIQUID
02

04
I

and M M

SUPERFIC1AL
0.6
I

LlflUlD
superlic~al velocity

tn the 20 cm

%MRMA

VELOCITY,
10
I

D-6
I

y,cm

1-2
I

/..c

IL
I

SUPERFICIAL

on effectwe

I d column Curve A (0)

VELOCITY,

rnterfacud

V, = 83

superliclal velocity, cm/set, C, a and #3 are the constants


The constants defined by eqn (3) were evaluated after
lmeartzatron by the multrple regressron analysts
Tahel 2 lists the constants defined by eqn (3) for the
varrous packmgs used m thus work under ddferent flow
regrmes In the case of trrckle (iilm) flow regme, the
value of the gas superlicml veloctty exponent @I IS very
small thereby mdrcatmg, as expected, that the gas
superticd
velocrty 1s not a ugmficant parameter In the
pulse flow regme, the gas superliclal velocity exponent
(6) IS relatrvely htgh
To correlate a data for the pulse flow regrme for
stamless steel Pall rmgs havmg the same dtameter but
ddferent hetght (length), the followmg equation was
attempted
a = mq5?ReLPReo9
(4)
where, # = shape factor, sldp2, s = area of packmg, cm*,
d,, = pacbng diameter, cm, ReL = hqmd phase Reynolds
number, dS4pcL, d. = equivalent diameter of sphere, cm,
L = hqurd mass velocrty, gmlcmsec,
p = vacosrty,
gmlcm set, Reo = gas phase Reynolds number, d.G/m,
m, y, p and q are constants defined by eqn (4)
Table 3 hsts the constants defined by eqn (4)
Pukushnna and Kusuka[3] have proposed an empulcal
equatron sumlar to eqn (4) However, they have mncorporated packmg drameter to tower drameter ratro,
d,,/T, as a parameter m theu correlations This does not
appear to be very rational for any of the flow regtmes
and we do not see any physrcal stgmlicance m having an
exponent of -2 0 and -2 5 on (d,,/T) for trrckle flow and
pulse flow, respectrvely Thus, when for any specified
flow
regtme and otherwIse umform condlttons, we
change d,lT by a factor 2 the value of a wdl change by a
factor of 025 and 0 177 for the trtckle and pulse flow

16
I

1
3-o

1
25

1
2.0

16

Fig 4 Effect on llquld

MAI-IAJANI

y,

cm /SW

area for multifilament

wre

gauze type packmgs

cm/sect Curve B (0) If, = 255 cm&c

regrmes, respectrvely It IS generally accepted that provrded the dtameter of column, T, IS more than 8-10 trmes
the nommal srze of packmgs, d,,, we should expect nearly
the same value of a for any specified Vc and VL
Experrmental data obtamed m our laboratory from 20 cm
and 38 cm I d columns wrth 1 m nommal stze ceramic
Intalox saddles (Shende and Sharma[ 1], Hon[6]) show
that for the tnckle flow regime we get practically the
same values of a These values of a were further
confirmed in the present work Expenmental
data
obtamed from the 38 cm dra column for 1 m ceramic
Intalox saddle were at the most 15% lower than those
obtamed from 20 cm I d column under otherwise umform condltlons Thus, there ts very good conststency in
the data obtained by different workers from 20cm and
38 cm I d columns
CONCL.USIONS
(1) Metal
Pall rmgs, despite poor wetting by water,
give higher values of a, for the tnckle flow regrme,
compared to the same nommal size ceramic Intalox
saddles, under otherwlse umform condltlons
(II) In the case of stamiess steel Pall rings, no
slgmficant Improvement m a values for the trickle flow
regtme was observed when he&t (length) to diameter
ratlo was vmed from 1 to 0 5 m the range of VO and VI_
covered IRthis work
(III) In the pulse flow regtme, the values of a varied
from 2 3 to 4 1 for 1 m ceramic Intalox saddles and from
3 2 to 5 for 1 m s s Pall nngs There was a substantral
effect of Vc on a values
(IV) The values of effective mterfaclal area offered by
s s MFWGP pachng are very high compared to those
offered by the conventional packings under otherwise
slmdar condltlons and values of a as high as 16cm*lcm
were obtamed

947

Mass transfer m packed columns


Acknowlcdgemml-One
of us (VVM) wrlshes to thank the Umverstty Grants Comnusslon, India. for an award of a FellowshIp
NOTATION

effectwe tnterfacml area, cm2/cm3


A+ mterfaclal concentration of oxygen in solution,
g mole/cm3
B concentration of sodmm dlthlomte m solution,
g mole/cm3
c constant defined by eqn (3)
4 dmmeter of packmg, cm
ds equwalent dwneter based on sphere, cm
L? ddfuswlty of oxygen in solution, cm%ec
G gas mass velocity, gm/cm*sec
H packed height, cm
k reaction rate constant, set-
flow rate, cm/sec,
or llquld
L hquld volumetnc
a

m
P
ReT

kc;
t
V

mass velocity,
constant defined

gmlcmsec

by eqn (4)
constant defined by eqn (4)
constant defined by eqn (4)
Reynolds number for liquid phase, d.UpL
Reynolds number for gas phase, dsGlpo
area of packmg, cm*
column diameter, cm
superiicial velocity, cmlsec

CES Vol 3S No 4-l.

Greek symbols
a constant defined by eqn (3)
$ constant defined by eqn (3)
y constant defined by eqn (4)
t#~ shape factor, s/d,*
p viscosity, gm/cm set
Subscripts
1 at mlet
0 at outlet
G gas phase
L hquld phase

REFERENCES

[l] Shende B W and Sharma M h4 , Chem Engng Sa 1974 29


1763
[2] Fukushlma S and Kusuka K , J Chem Engng Japan 1977 10
[3] J?ivefl A S and Sharma M M , Chem Engng SCI 1968 23
669
[4] ,om$ee
of Analytrcal Methods, Am Dyestuf Reptr 1957
[S] Sawant S B and Pangarkar V G , unpubhshed work, Umverslty of Bombay
[6] Hon H C , Ph D (Tech) Thesis, Umverslty of Bombay,
Bombay 1977

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