Characteristics of mass transfer between gas-liquid phases in a higee reactor

Abstract

In the absorption process of gas-liquid phases in Rotating Packed Bed (RPB), the liquid flow on packing was assumed to be film-flow. Based on Higbie’s penetration theory, the diffusion-reaction model in RPB was introduced to calculate the rate of gas absorption. Taking CO2 (10%)+N2(90%) gas mixture and N-methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) aqueous solution as objects, the experiments of gas absorption were carried out at different gas flow rates, rotating speeds, temperatures, liquid flow rates and MDEA mass concentrations. The experimental data were compared with calculation results to found a good agreement in the rotating speed range of 400-1100r/min. In this range, the rate of decarburization was in direct proportion to rotating speed, temperature and liquid flow rate, and inversely proportion to gas flow rate and MEDA mass concentration. The maximum deviation between experimental data and calculation results was 10%. Beyond the rotating speed of 1100 r/min, the rate of decarburization was dependent on the dynamic balance of gas-liquid system. In this area, the rate of decarburization was inversely proportion to rotating speed.

Keywords

• lifetime of liquid film
• concentration gradient
• dynamic-state mass transfer
• higee reactor