CHARACTERISTICS OF A ROTATING PACKED-BED

The mass transfer (stripping of ethanol) and pressure drop (water-air) of a rotating packed bed were investigated under 13-273 equiv of grav itational force with two packings. The results indicated that the mass -transfer coefficient (K-G alpha) was enhanced due to the centrifugal force as compared to a conventional packed bed. An empirical correlati on was also proposed, suggesting that the K-G alpha value depends on t he Gr(G) number to the power of 0,25. As to pressure drop, the gas rat e seems to be a more important factor than the liquid rate because of less liquid holdup under centrifugal force. A semiempirical equation w as also developed to correlate the pressure drop data with good agreem ent.