A mathematical model of the dynamic behaviour of non-isothermal fixed-bed adsorbers has been developed which takes into account the various mass and heat transfer resistances. Comparison of experimental and simulated results confirms that the model can predict the adsorption and desorption breakthrough curves of an adiabatically operated column, using only equilibrium data and tortuosity factors obtained from single pellet experiments. A simplified model with a reduced number of parameters was derived by investigation of the dimensionless transfer parameters under industrial conditions. It becomes evident that the main transfer mechanisms are convective heat and mass transfer in the bulk flow and diffusion within the pores of the particle. Dimensionless effluent concentration is expressed in terms of dimensionless time, a transport parameter, a non-isothermal parameter, the adsorption equilibrium and the inlet and initial concentrations and temperatures in the simplified model. For a chosen system of adsorbate and adsorbent, design charts can be developed by computer simulation, to determine graphically the breakthrough time as a function of significant process parameters, i.e. the dimensionless transfer parameter and the feed concentration.
* Paper presented by W. Otten at the "Jahrestreffen der Verfahrens-Ingenieure", Freiburg, Spetember 30 to October 2, 1987.