Liquid viscosity and flow rate effects on interfacial area in packed columns

Abstract

The influences of liquid kinematic viscosity and liquid flow rate on effective interfacial area for chemical absorption in a Raschig ring packed column were studied by absorbing carbon dioxide into potassium carbonate-bicarbonate-arsenite solutions. The viscosities of the absorbing liquid were varied by the addition of sugar. Analysis of the data shows that an increase in liquid flow rate increases the effective interfacial area over the whole viscosity range considered. The influence of liquid viscosity is more complex as the interfacial area increases with viscosity for low values, while decreasing at higher viscosities. Two correlations have been developed to express this behaviour.