Mass transfer and fluid flow visualization in packed and fluidized beds by the adsorption method

Abstract

Mass transfer coefficient (j D ) between fluid and column wall in liquid packed and fluidized beds of spherical inert particle has been studied experimentally using adsorption method. Experiments were conducted in column 40 mm in diameter for packed and fluidized beds. In all runs mass transfer rates were determined in presence of spherical glass particles 2.06 mm in diameter. This paper introduced adsorption method as very suitable method for studies of mass transfer and for fluid flow visualization. The adsorption method is based on the dynamic adsorption of an organic dye onto a surface covered with a thin layer of a porous adsorbent. Local and average mass transfer coefficients were determinated from the surface color intensity of the foils of silica gel. Correlation j D = f(Re) was derived using mass transfer coefficients data.