IONIC MASS TRANSFER IN THREE-PHASE FLUIDIZED BEDS IN THE PRESENCE OF DISC PROMOTERS

Abstract

Three-phase fluidized beds have wide applications in process industries. The present investigation is carried out to identify the enhancement of ionic mass transfer coefficients due to the presence of a disc promoter in a three-phase fluidized bed. A diffusion-controlled electrode reaction—reduction of ferricyanide ion—was employed to obtain mass transfer coefficient data. The mass transfer coefficient data were obtained by varying the geometric variables of the disc promoter (disc diameter, disc spacing) and dynamic variables (superficial liquid velocity, superficial gas velocity). The effect of particle diameter was also investigated. The investigations revealed that the mass transfer coefficients were enhanced with decreased disc spacing, increased disc diameter, increased superficial gas velocity, increased superficial liquid velocity, and increased particle diameter.

Keywords:

• Augmentation
• Disc promoter
• Ionic mass transfer
• Three-phase fluidized beds
• Wall-to-bed mass transfer