Mass Transfer Parameters for Packings: Effect of Viscosity

Abstract

The effect of liquid viscosity (μ L ) on the effective mass transfer area ( a e ) and liquid film mass transfer coefficient ( k L ) of packing must be known to determine packing height. Most existing correlations are based on water and are not applicable to viscous systems. In this work, a e, k L, and gas film mass transfer coefficient ( k G ) were measured in a 0.43 m ID packed column with 0.5–3 m of packing. Liquid viscosity was varied from 0.8 to 70 mPa·s by adding glycerol to water. Liquid viscosity has an insignificant effect on a e over the range of μ L investigated. The total dependence of k L on μ L is −0.75, of which −0.35 is indirect influence through diffusivity, and −0.4 is direct influence through liquid turbulence. Universal mass transfer models for packing were developed as functions of packing geometry, operating condition, and fluid property.