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.