The flow pattern and residence time distribution for an endless belt solid-liquid contactor

The flow pattern and residence time distribution (RTD) for an endless belt mass transfer device have been studied theoretically and experimentally. Ev en within the laminar regime the overall flow pattern shows several interes ting features, with a wide range of different RTDs, depending on the relati ve velocities of fluid and belt. At high relative belt speeds the RTDs for cocurrent and countercurrent how approach the same limiting form and at lon g residence times the system behaves as a single well mixed vessel. The res trictions imposed by the flow behavior on the practical range of operation as a mass transfer device are briefly considered. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.