MASS-TRANSFER IN CRYOGENIC DISTILLATION COLUMN SEPARATING HYDROGEN ISOTOPES

A simulation model was proposed to study the mass and heat transfer ra tes in hydrogen isotope distillation columns. The model is on the basi s of the analogy : the mass transfer coefficients and effective surfac e area within the column were estimated by Kosuge's and Onda's correla tion in the model. The calculated results by the present model agreed approximately with the experimental observations. The model had a tend ency to give slightly higher separation performance. This tendency is due to that the estimated effective surface area might be larger than actual values. The calculated results by the proposed model were compa red with those by the stage model also to discuss relationship between the mass transfer rate and the HETP value. The estimated mass transfe r rates were almost the same for H-D and D-T systems. This calculated results give a reason why the HETP values were not varied for the diff erence in physical properties of hydrogen isotopes. The proposed model does not have the parameter that fit the calculated results to the ex perimental observations. Comparing the calculated results by the propo sed model with those by the stage model, we can estimate the HETP valu e.