Mass transfer across the falling film: Simulations and experiments

Mass transfer across the thin falling film gas–liquid interface is a very important process as in chemical engineering and other fields, and yet there is still a lack of general predictability of the transfer quantity based on basic hydrodynamic parameters and independent of the geometrical setup. I...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Chemical engineering science 2008-05, Vol.63 (9), p.2559-2575
Main Authors: Xu, Z.F., Khoo, B.C., Wijeysundera, N.E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
Chemical engineering
Exact sciences and technology
Falling films
Hanratty's [formula omitted]
Heat and mass transfer. Packings, plates
Hydrodynamics
Hydrodynamics of contact apparatus
Interface
Mass transfer
Turbulence
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Summary:Mass transfer across the thin falling film gas–liquid interface is a very important process as in chemical engineering and other fields, and yet there is still a lack of general predictability of the transfer quantity based on basic hydrodynamic parameters and independent of the geometrical setup. In this work, a numerical simulation is carried out for a vertical falling film arrangement. The wave dynamics and the associated mass transfer phenomena are discussed and compared with previous experimental empirical relationships. Based on the validity of the simulated results for wave parameters, numerical experiments for mass transfer were carried out with the aim of comparing to the empirical relation based on a single hydrodynamic parameter β (the gradient of the vertical fluctuating velocity at the interface) established previously by Law and Khoo [2002. Transport across a turbulent gas–liquid interface. A.I.Ch.E. Journal 48(9), 1856–1868.] and Xu et al. [2006. Mass transfer across the turbulence gas–water interface. A.I.Ch.E. Journal 52, 3363–3374] with various non-falling film experiments. Separately, experiments in an inclined plate thin falling film apparatus were carried out to determine the β distribution and associated mass transfer. It is found that there is reasonable concurrence with the mentioned empirical relation, hence suggesting the general applicability of β characterizing the scalar transport across the gas–liquid interface independent of the means of turbulence generation.
ISSN:0009-2509
1873-4405
DOI:10.1016/j.ces.2008.02.014