Separative Analyses of Packed Water Distillation Column with Channeling Stage Model

Abstract

In order to predict the HETP (Height Equivalent to a Theoretical Plate) values of packed water distillation columns, we developed the channeling stage model taking account of the effect of axial mixing in the liquid phase. The overall channeling coefficients were defined as

in terms of the channeling coefficients ρ for the mass transfer through the phases and for the axial mixing in each phase. The coefficients ρ and ; were estimated for the packed column of 100 cm in length and 1.6 cm in inner diameter where Dixon gauze rings of 3 mm or 6 mm were packed. The HETP values calculated with the overall channeling coefficients ρ agreed well with the values obtained experimentally. By examining ρ and ;, we showed that the mass transfer efficiencies for 6 mm Dixon gauze ring per a unit length of the column were larger than those for 3 mm. On the other hand, the losses in degree of separation by the axial mixing for 6 mm were larger than those for 3 mm.

KEYWORDS:

• hydrogen isotope separation
• water distillation
• packed column
• packing
• flow analysis
• separative analysis
• mole-fraction profile
• mass transfer
• mixing
• separative power