No abstract

Mass transfer in rotating packed beds (RPBs) is intensified by centrifugal force compared to conventional columns. The resulting significant reductions of equipment size may be advantageous, e.g., for off-shore applications or retrofits. Volumetric liquid-side mass transfer coefficients k L a e are one of the key parameters for modeling. A database of k L a e for pilot scale RPBs, i.e., with radial bed lengths significantly greater than 100 mm, was compiled from the literature and supplemented by own water deoxygenation experiments. Available correlations for k L a e , which are based on lab-scale RPBs mostly with bed lengths below 60 mm, could not adequately describe the data. Hence, a new correlation was developed, which is capable of describing the majority of the data within ±30%. The correlation incorporates effects of liquid as well as gas flow rate and captures the local maximum in separation efficiency, which was observed at intermediate centrifugal accelerations.