Unified correlations for the prediction of the slip velocity, characteristic velocity, flooding throughput and flooding slip velocity in a pulsed disc and doughnut extraction column

Abstract

Pulsed disc and doughnut columns (PDDC) have become an integral part of the nuclear fuel reprocessing and hydrometallurgical industries for quite some time. In this study, five unified correlations have been proposed for the prediction of slip velocity, characteristic velocity, flooding throughput and flooding slip velocity over a wide range of operating parameters, column dimensions and chemical systems in a PDDC. Before formulation of the correlations, a detailed cross validation of the existing correlations with the reported and the present experimental results have been performed. Then the empirical equations have been formulated by correlating the reported results by various researchers along with the present experimental data. The total number of data points used for predicting the slip velocity, characteristic velocity, flooding throughput and flooding slip velocity is 584, 129,185 and 128, respectively. For slip velocity and slip velocity at flood point, two new correlations have been proposed. For characteristic velocity and flooding throughput, the reported and the present data points have been refitted using existing correlations. Good accuracy has been achieved between the predicted and experimental results.