Wall-to-Bed Mass Transfer in a Three-Phase Fluidized Bed with Twisted Tape as Internal

Abstract

Experimental data on limiting current are obtained at point electrodes fixed flush with the inner surface of the outer cylinder of a three-phase fluidized bed electrochemical reactor in the presence of coaxially placed twisted tape inserts. Wall-to-bed mass transfer coefficient data are computed from the measured limiting current data. Glass balls of different diameters are employed as solid phase, nitrogen as gas phase and an electrolyte belonging to ferri–ferro redox system as liquid phase. Twisted tapes of different pitch values and width values are used as turbulent promoters. It is found that the use of twisted tape turbulent promoters in the three-phase fluidized beds yielded an augmentation of 25 %. Further it is observed that the mass transfer coefficient values are relatively uninfluenced by the longitudinal distance, and the liquid and gas velocities within the range of values considered for these variables. Further, the mass transfer coefficient is found to decrease with increase in tape pitch, tape width and particle diameter. A correlation is provided for the estimation of mass transfer coefficient using least squares regression analysis.