Heterogeneous mass transfer models for gas absorption in multiphase systems

Heterogeneous, instationary 2-D and 3-D mass transfer models were developed to study the effect of dispersed liquid-phase droplets near the gas-liquid interface on the local gas absorption rate. It was found among other thing s that droplets (or particles) influence local mass transfer rates over an area exceeding largely the projection of the droplets on the gas-liquid int erface. For a specific application particle-particle interaction was studie d and could be described by a single parameter, depending only on the minim um interparticle distance. For gas absorption flux prediction an unit cell must be defined. The sensitivity of the absorption flux to the definition o f the unit cell was investigated. Finally, a complete strategy to arrive at gas absorption flux prediction from single particle simulations has been p roposed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.