Prediction of dispersed phase holdup in pulsed disc and doughnut solvent extraction columns under different mass transfer conditions

Using experimental data from a number of pulsed disc and doughnut solvent extraction columns, a unified correla- tion for the prediction of dispersed phase holdup that considers the effects of mass transfer is presented. Pulsed disc and doughnut solvent extraction columns （PDDC） have been used for a range of important applications such as ura- nium extraction and nuclear fuel recycling. Although the dispersed phase holdup in a PDDC has been presented by some researchers, there is still the need to develop a robust correlation that can predict the experimental dispersed phase holdup over a range of operating conditions including the effects of mass transfer direction. In this study, dis- persed phase holdup data from different literature sources for a PDDC were used to refit constants for the correlation presented by Kumar and Hartland lind. Eng. Chem. Res.,27 （1988）,131-138] which did not consider the effect of col- umn geometry. In order to incorporate the characteristic length of the PDDC （i.e. the plate spacing）, the unified cor- relation for holdup proposed by Kumar and Hartland based on data from eight different types of columns [Ind. Eng. Chem. Res.,34 （1995） 3925-3940] was refitted to the PDDC data. New constants have been presented for each hold- up correlation for a PDDC based on regression analysis using published holdup data from PDDCs that cover a range of onerating conditions and nhwical nronerties and consider the direction of mass transfer.

Prediction of mass transfer coefficients in an asymmetric rotating disk contactor using effective diffusivity

Mass transfer characteristics have been investigated in a 113 mm diameter asymmetric rotating disk contactor of the pilot plant scale for two different liquid–liquid systems. The effects of operating parameters including rotor speed and continuous and dispersed phase velocities on the volumetric overall mass transfer coefficients are investigated. The results show that the mass transfer performance is strongly dependent on agitation rate and interfacial tension, but only slightly dependent on phase flow rates. In this study, effective diffusivity is used instead of molecular diffusivity in the Grober equation for estimation of dispersed phase overall mass transfer coefficient.The enhancement factor is determined experimentally and there from an empirical expression is derived for prediction of the enhancement factor as a function of Reynolds number. The predicted results compared to the experimental data show that the proposed correlation can efficiently predict the overall mass transfer coefficients in asymmetric rotating disk contactors.

Use of axial dispersion model for determination of Sherwood number and mass transfer coefficients in a perforated rotating disc contactor

The mass transfer process in a perforated rotating disk contactor(PRDC) using a toluene-acetone-water system was investigated.The volumetric overall mass transfer coefficients are calculated in a PRDC column.Both mass transfer directions are considered in experiments.The influences of operating variables containing agitation rate,dispersed and continuous phase flow rates and mass transfer in the extraction column are studied.According to obtained results,mass transfer is significantly dependent on agitation rate,while the dispersed and continuous phase flow rates have a minor effect on mass transfer in the extraction column.Furthermore,a novel empirical correlation is developed for prediction of overall continuous phase Sherwood number based on dispersed phase holdup,Reynolds number and mass transfer direction.There has been great agreement between experimental data and predicted values using a proposed correlation for all operating conditions.