Analytical study on the liquid–particle mass transfer coefficient for multiparticle systems

Abstract

This work focuses on liquid–particle mass transfer coefficient correlations for multiparticle systems. After discussing the mass transfer coefficient definitions, we review the available theoretical correlations for isolated particles and multiparticle systems. The latter are based on assumptions that are not rigorous. To estimate the mass transfer coefficient and derive a correlation for it, we apply scaling and order-of-magnitude analysis to the mass and linear momentum balance equations. The analysis features an undetermined constant. For isolated particles, we determine the value of this constant by matching the predictions of our correlation with those of other correlations available in the literature, obtaining a good fit. For multiparticle systems, we estimate the value of the constant via regression of experimental data; the predictions of our correlation align well with the experimental data, the relative percent error being less than 30% for most of the data.