Comparison of the Performance of a Pulsed Disc and Doughnut Column with a Pulsed Sieve Plate Liquid Extraction Column

Abstract

The hydrodynamic and mass‐transfer performance of a 75 mm diameter pulsed disc and doughnut column (PDD) and a pulsed sieve‐plate column (PSP) are presented and compared for a toluene–acetone–water system under similar operating conditions. It was found that the pulsed disc and doughnut column flooded earlier than the pulsed sieve‐plate column, indicating that the total throughput per unit cross‐sectional area through the pulsed disc and doughnut column was less. At similar operating conditions (i.e., flowrates, pulse frequency, and amplitude), the mass‐transfer performance of the pulsed disc and doughnut column was higher, and its holdup higher. The mass‐transfer performance of the PSP column, when compared at similar holdup to the PDD, was found to be higher, and so it is concluded that it is a more efficient column for this system.