Mass transfer in packed columns: The cylinder model

Abstract

AbstractIn order to predict mass transfer in packed columns, it is necessary to know the interfacial area. The well‐known and often cited equation (Onda, Kolev, Zech, etc.) do not yield precise values for the mass transfer coefficient βL ae or the interfacial area ae, especially for modern packing elements. A new model will be presented which takes into account the structure of packing (cylinder model) as well as the structure of the liquid hold‐up. This model allows the separation of liquid flow through packings into its main constituents, i.e. rivulets and drops (freely falling). The determination of the structure of liquid flow allows the prediction of effective interfacial areas as well as of volumetric mass transfer coefficients for irrigated large packing elements manufactured from plastics, metals or ceramic. The applicability to novel future packings is one of the advantages of the new model.