The calculation of plate efficiency under conditions of finite mixing in both phases in multiplate columns, and the potential advantage of parallel flow

✍ Scribed by M.J. Ashley; G.G. Haselden

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1970
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 651 KB
• Volume: 25
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0009-2509
• DOI: 10.1016/0009-2509(70)80057-4

✦ Synopsis

The achievement of high separating performance in plate columns requires the achievement and exploitation of maximum concentration gradients in both phases across all plates. The mixed pool concept, initiated by Kerschbaum and developed by Gautreaux and O'Connell for the liquid phase in distillation is extended to account for partial mixing in the vapour phase, by introducing a mixed vapour cell concept.

Methods are given for calculating the number of mixed pools, either from existing values of eddy diffusivity or directly from tracer experiments.

Using the mixed-pool and mixed-cell approaches in a computer program, operating areas are defined in which the potential efficiency increase arising from the use of parallel rather than counter flow of liquid on successive trays may be industrially significant.