Effect of macropore convection on mass transfer in a bidisperse adsorbent particle

The importance of adsorption induced convection in the macropores of a bidisperse adsorbent particle is studied for a step change in mole fraction or total pressure at the surface of the particle. Material balance equations for a binary gas mixture are written for both the macropores and the macropores with allowance for convection in the macropores, which is described by Darcy's law. The coupled set o1' partial differential equations is solved by orthogonal collocation. The enhancement in mass transfer as a result of convection is assessed by comparing the fractional uptake curves obtained with and without allowance for convection. Both equilibrium-based and kinetic-based separation processes are considered. The effect of the presence of convection in determining the controlling diffusional resistance (macropore or micropore) is also examined. Due to inclusion of convection no single non-dimensional group alone can determine the relative importance of macropore and micropore resistances. Results show that convection can significantly affect the performance of an equilibrium-based macropore diffusion controlled process and that the enhancement in mass transfer is more for a particle with a high value of Darcy permeability.     

Role of convection and diffusion in a single pore with adsorptive walls

The importance of intraparticle convection during and after the pressurization step of a pressure swing adsorption process is assessed by considering a single, cylindrical, closed-end pore with adsorptive walls exposed to a binary mixture of an adsorbable component and an inert gas. Gas-phase mass transfer is comprised of pore diffusion and convection, and surface diffusion occurs in the adsorbed phase. Concentration, velocity, and flux profiles are obtained inside the pore both during and after pressurization. Solutions are obtained analytically for the limiting cases of no adsorption, no diffusion, and no inert gas. Complete solutions of the material balance equations are obtained by orthogonal collocation. The pressurization rate, the adsorptive capacity of the pore wall, and the gas-phase mole fraction are varied over a wide range to study the relative importance of convection and diffusion under different conditions. Results show that convection makes a large contribution to transport in the pore except when the adsorbable component has a small mole fraction.     

Particle dynamics and particle heat and mass transfer in thermal plasmas. Part II. Particle heat and mass transfer in thermal plasmas

This paper is concerned with a review of heat and mass transfer between thermal plasmas and particulate matter. In this situation various effects which are not present in ordinary heat and mass transfer have to be considered, including unsteady conditions, modified convective heat transfer due to strongly varying plasma properties, radiation, internal conduction, particle shape, vaporization and evaporation, noncontinuum conditions, and particle charging. The results indicate that (i) convective heat transfer coefficients have to be modified due to strongly varying plasma properties; (ii) vaporization, defined as a mass transfer process corresponding to particle surface temperatures below the boiling point, describes a different particle heating history than that of the evaporation process which, however, is not a critical control mechanism for interphase mass transfer of particles injected into thermal plasmas; (iii) particle heat transfer under noncontinuum conditions is governed by individual contributions from the species in the plasma (electrons, ions, neutral species) and by particle charging effects.     

Effect of Operation Symmetry on Pressure Swing Adsorption Process

In a multi-bed pressure swing adsorption (PSA) process, cycle steps with gas flow transferring from one bed to another such as equalization, purge, etc. are generally practiced to enhance the product recovery. However, if the flows for the connected beds in these steps are not balanced, the PSA process may not operate in a symmetrical manner. In the modeling of the PSA process, most of the simulations consider only one bed and assume that the rest of the beds would behave in a same way. In order to assess the impact of bed symmetry on the PSA performance, a new PSA model capable of studying bed symmetry in a two-bed system is developed. Experimental results from this paper show that uneven equalization flow can result in a lower product purity and a peculiar purity curve at different equalization levels. This phenomenon can be successfully predicted by this model. Simulation results also show that in large-scale PSA units, asymmetrical operation can cause drastically different temperature profiles in different adsorbers and hence a much lower performance. This paper demonstrates the importance of maintaining operation symmetry in PSA processes.     

Enhancement of the heat and mass transfer in compact zeolite layers

Heat and mass transfer during the adsorption of water on zeolite has been studied both theoretically and experimentally. A dynamic simulation model of a zeolite layer has been developed to estimate the predominant transport resistances and calculations were carried out to assist the simultaneous experimental investigations. On one hand, a metallic matrix was added to the compact zeolite layer to improve the heat transfer. On the other hand, pore-forming materials such as melamine or tartaric acid were used. These organic components are removed during drying of the zeolite so that the mass transfer inside the zeolite is significantly enhanced compared to a granulated zeolite bed. The experimental investigations show that the theoretically deduced possibilities of improving the adsorption process can be realized in the manufactured zeolites.The investigations described here are of interest for the development of adsorption heat pumps. Due to the thermodynamic characteristics the adsorption system zeolite-water is a promising working pair for this application. The investigations show that the main shortcoming of these machines, the thermal output, can be increased significantly.     

Coupled convection of solution near the surface of ion-exchange membranes in intensive current regimes

Mechanisms responsible for the overlimiting ion transfer in membranes systems are discussed. The overlimiting transfer is shown to be due largely to the action of four effects coupled with the concentration polarization of the system. Two of these are connected with the water dissociation near the membrane/solution interface: the emergence of additional charge carriers (ions H⁺ or OH^?) in the depleted solution layer and the exaltation of transfer of salt counterions. The latter effect is connected with the perturbation of electric field caused by the water dissociation products. The other two effects are two versions of coupled convection, which leads to partial destruction of the depleted diffusion layer. These include gravitational convection and electroconvection. The former is caused by the emergence of the solution’s density gradient. The latter develops via a mechanism of electroosmotic slip. In this work, methods of voltammetry and chronopotentiometry and pH measurements are used to study the transfer of ions through homogeneous membranes Nafion-117 and AMX as a function of the concentration of sodium chloride solutions in the underlimiting and overlimiting current regimes. In a 0.1 M NaCl solution, gravitational convection makes a considerable contribution to the transfer of salt ions near the membrane surface in intensive current regimes. The influence of this effect on the electrochemical behavior of membrane systems weakens with the solution dilution and with increasing relative transfer of the H⁺ and OH^? ions that are generated at the membrane/solution interface. In conditions where gravitational convection is suppressed and the water dissociation near the membrane/solution interface is not great, the major contribution to the overlimiting growth of current is made by electroconvection. Topics for discussion in the paper include the mutual influence of effects on one another, in particular, the effect the rate of generation of the H⁺ and OH^? ions exerts on the gravitational convection and electroconvection and the reasons for the different behavior of cation-and anion-exchange membranes in intensive current regimes.     

Effect of variable feed concentration on the performance of a pressure swing adsorption process

Effects of variable feed composition on the performance of a pressure swing adsorption process are analyzed by simulation. Two scenarios are considered. The first, increasing impurity, case considers low impurity concentration in the feed followed by high impurity concentration in the feed. The second, decreasing impurity, case considers high impurity concentration in the feed followed by low impurity concentration in the feed. These results are compared against a case which has an impurity concentration in the feed at an average of the high and the low impurity concentrations. Simulations show that the increasing impurity scenario is expected to perform better, and the decreasing impurity scenario is expected to perform worse than the average feed concentration case.     

固体粒子对板式膜吸收过程的传质强化

分别采用纯CO2-去离子水和不同浓度的NaOH溶液为实验体系,在板式膜器中研究了第三相固体粒子对膜吸收过程传质效果的影响．分别考察了在不同粒子种类、搅拌转速、传质体系、化学反应强度、膜孔隙率等因素下固体粒子对传质强化的影响．结果表明,随着粒子固含率的增大,传质系数和增强因子均有所提高,当粒子固含率增大到一定范围后,传质系数和增强因子的变化趋于平缓．在固含率一定的条件下,不同种类的固体粒子对膜吸收过程的强化效果随着固体粒子密度的增加而减小．传质系数随着搅拌转速的增大而增大,但高搅拌转速下固体粒子的强化作用减弱．膜吸收过程的传质系数和增强因子随着化学反应强度的增强而增加．随着粒子固含率的增大,不同膜孔隙率对传质效果的差异减小,且孔隙率越小,固体粒子对膜吸收传质过程的强化效果越好．其中,对于纯CO2-去离子水体系,当孔隙率为20％,粒子固含率为1．5gL^（-1）时,固体粒子的加入可使传质系数提高1．45倍,增强因子可达2．45．     

Mathematical Modeling of Multicomponent Nonisothermal Adsorption in Sorbent Particles Under Pressure Swing Conditions

A detailed model for nonisothermal sorption of multicomponent mixtures in a single sorbent particle (monodisperse or bidisperse with negligible intracrystalline mass transport limitations) under pressure swing conditions is developed in this study. The dusty-gas model is used to describe the coupling of the molar fluxes, the temperature, the partial pressures and the partial pressure gradients of the components in the pore space of the particle. The variations of the temperature are described by an energy equation in which both convective and conductive modes of heat transport are accounted for. No limitations are imposed on the number of the components in the mixture and on the type of the adsorption isotherm. The model is applied in the investigation of the industrially important air-zeolite 5A system. Two cases with respect to the surrounding gas phase are examined: infinite environment, which is representative for single particle experiments, and finite environment, which is representative for the situation in packed bed adsorbers. It is found that in an infinite environment the external and internal temperature gradients are equally important while in a finite environment the external heat transport limitations are negligible. It is concluded that in modeling the nonisothermal operation of adsorption processes occurring in packed beds it is not necessary to allow for the temperature differences between the gas phase and the surface of the adsorbing particles. Furthermore, if the temperature gradients within the particles can be neglected, only a single temperature equation is needed to describe the energy transport in the bed.     

Transient natural convection induced by electrodeposition of Li+ ions onto a lithium metal vertical cathode in propylene carbonate

Transient natural convection caused by Li⁺ electrodeposition at constant current along a vertical Li metal cathode immersed in a 0.5 M LiClO₄–PC (propylene carbonate) electrolyte was compared with that by Cu²⁺ ion electrodeposition in aqueous CuSO₄ solution. The concentration profile of the Li⁺ ions was measured in situ by holographic interferometry. The interference fringes start to shift with time at a higher current density. The concentration boundary layer thickness for Li⁺ ions was successfully determined. With the progress of electrodeposition, the density difference between the electrolyte at the cathode surface and the bulk electrolyte increased to induce upward natural convection of the electrolyte. The electrolyte velocity was measured by monitoring the movement of tracer particles. The measured transient behavior of the ionic mass and momentum transfer rates normalized with respect to the steady-state value was numerically analyzed. Transient natural convection along a vertical cathode due to Li metal electrodeposition can be reasonably explained by boundary layer theory, similar to the case of Cu electrodeposition in aqueous CuSO₄ solution.     

Heat transfer to a particle under plasma conditions with vapor contamination from the particle

Heat transfer to a copper particle immersed into an argon plasma is considered in this paper, including the effects of contamination of the plasma (transport coefficients) by copper vapor from the particle. Except for cases of high plasma temperatures, the vapor content in the plasma is shown to have a considerable influence on heat transfer to a nonevaporating particle, and, to a lesser extent, on heat transfer to an evaporating particle. Evaporation itself reduces heat transfer to a particle substantially as shown in a previous paper [Xi Chen and E. Pfender, Plasma Chem. Plasma Process.,2, 185 (1982)]. Comparisons of the calculated results with those based on a method suggested in the above reference show that the simplified assumptions employed, i.e., that the surface temperature is equal to the boiling point and that plasma properties based on a fixed composition are applicable, can be employed to simplify calculations for many cases. This study reveals that a considerable portion of a particle must be vaporized before a steady concentration distribution is established around the particle.Nomenclature C _p specific heat at constant pressure - D diffusion coefficient of copper in the mixture - D _a diffusion coefficient of copper atoms in the mixture - D _i ambipolar diffusion coefficient of copper ions in the mixture - f mass fraction of copper in the mixture - f _a mass fraction of copper atoms in the mixture - f _i mass fraction of copper ions in the mixture - f mass fraction of copper in the plasma far away from the particle - f _s mass fraction of copper at the particle surface - G total mass flow rate due to evaporation - G _a mass flow rate of copper atoms - G _i mass flow rate of copper ions - H function defined in Eq. (19) - h specific enthalpy - h _s specify enthalpy at the particle surface - h specific enthalpy corresponding toT andf - k thermal conductivity - L latent heat of evaporation - M ₁ molecular weight of argon (M ₁=39.99) - M ₂ molecular weight of copper (M ₂=63.55) - p ₀ pressure of the gas mixture - p _s partial pressure of copper vapor at the particle surface - Q ₀ heat flux to a particle without evaporation - Q ₁ heat flux to a particle with evaporation - R gas constant - r radical coordinate - r _s particle radius - S heat conduction potential defined in Eq. (4) - S _s surface value ofS, corresponding toT _s andf _s - S free-stream value ofS, corresponding toT andf - T temperature - T _b boiling temperature of particle material - T _s particle surface temperature - T plasma temperature - density - T temperature step for numerical integration     

Electrochemical mass transfer modeling of a complex two phase heat transfer problem: Case of a prototype slagging gasifier

The local and averaged forced-convective heat transfer coefficients were estimated from measured local and averaged mass transfer coefficients in a model slagging-gasifier hearth pool using the Chilton-Colburn analogy. A solution of ferri/ferrocyanide and buffer with addition of CMC (carboxymethylcellulose) was used for the electrochemical mass transfer measurements. This solution had similar properties to those of the slag in the real gasifier. The influence of natural convection due to the differences in temperatures in the hearth was also estimated. Values of heat transfer coefficient similar to those estimated by British Gas for the prototype Westfield gasifier were found using the mass transfer modelling method. Published in Russian in Elektrokhimiya, 2008, Vol. 44, No. 4, pp. 447–458. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Effect of Enzyme Modification of Corn Grits on their Properties as an Adsorbent in a Skarstrom Pressure Swing Cycle Dryer

Corn grits have been tested as a desiccant in a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) system to produce dry air. Two sizes of unmodified corn grits were tested in the PSA system: 2.16 and 0.978 mm in diameter, which dried moist air to dew points of –42°C and –69°C, respectively. A modification technology has been developed for the corn grits that gives an increase in the operational adsorptive capacity in a pressure swing adsorption system, so that they remove as much moisture from air as molecular sieves at the same conditions. After modification, 2.16 mm corn grits dry moist air to a –56°C dew point and the 0.978 mm corn grits dry air to a –80°C dew point. The modification process creates surface modifications on the corn grits apparently making more adsorption sites easily available. The modification procedure increases the specific surface area of the grits and possibly decreases the crystallinity, which would make more hydroxyl groups available for adsorption of water. Possible applications of using corn grits in the pressure swing adsorption system include industrial gas dryers, sorptive cooling air conditioners, and recycling equipment for industrial solvents.     

Self-diffusion,mass transfer,and viscosity coefficients for a binary mixture in narrow slit-like pores

The concentration dependences of the dynamic characteristics of a binary mixture in narrow slit-shaped pores of different widths are considered. The local and mean partial self-diffusion, label transfer, mass transfer (mutual diffusion), and shear viscosity coefficients for binary mixtures of various compositions were calculated. The calculation was based on the lattice-gas model in the quasichemical approximation for spherical components with approximately the same size. The calculation of dynamic characteristics took into account collisions between the molecules that determine the direction of their motion. All the kinetic coefficients depend substantially on the mixture density, the direction of motion, and the distance to the pore wall. The effect of the pore width on the calculated dynamic characteristics is considered. __________ Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1726—1735, August, 2005.     

Determination of Mass Coefficients of Ions in a Quantitative Analysis of the Effect of Natural Convection on Electrochemical Processes

Methods for calculating buoyancy forces in multicomponent electrochemical systems using relative ion mass coefficients are analyzed. An approximate method for determining ion mass coefficients using the available reference data on the concentration dependences of densities of individual substance solutions is developed. Ionic mass coefficients, found using this method, are tabulated. These can be used for determining buoyancy forces in electrochemical systems of various compositions.     

Reaction and mass transfer effects in a catalytic monolith reactor

Zeolite-based monoliths (Cu/ZSM-5 on cordierite) are prepared and used to catalyze direct decomposition of nitrogen monoxide. Two-dimensional heterogeneous model is applied to describe the behavior of the monolith reactor, with the emphasis on the features introduced due to coupling of flow, mass transfer and chemical reaction. The proposed model has been verified by comparing computer simulation data with laboratory experimental data. It is shown that both inter- and intraphase diffusion limitations have to be considered when modeling complex reactor configuration, such as monolith reactors, especially when monolith with thicker catalytic layer are used at higher temperatures.     

Heat transfer to a single particle exposed to a thermal plasma

This paper is concerned with an analytical study of the heat and mass transfer process of a single particle exposed to a thermal plasma, with emphasis on the effects which evaporation imposes on heat transfer from the plasma to the particle. The results refer mainly to an atmospheric-pressure argon plasma and, for comparison purposes, an argon-hydrogen mixture and a nitrogen plasma are also considered in a temperature range from 3000 to 16,000 K. Interactions with water droplets, alumina, tungsten, and graphite particles are considered in a range of small Reynolds numbers typical for plasma processing of fine powders. Comparisons between exact solutions of the governing equations and approximate solutions indicate the parameter range for which approximate solutions are valid. The time required for complete evaporation of a given particle can be determined from calculated values of the vaporization constant. This constant is mainly determined by the boiling (or sublimation) temperature of the particles and the density of the condensed phase. Evaporation severely reduces heat transfer to a particle and, in general, this effect is more pronounced for materials with low latent heat of evaporation.     

Influence of suspended solid particles on gas-liquid mass transfer coefficient in a system stirred by double impellers

The aim of the research work was to investigate the effect of the presence and concentration of solid particles on the gas-liquid volumetric mass transfer coefficient in a mechanically stirred gas-solid-liquid system. Experimental studies were conducted in a tall vessel of the diameter of 0.288 m, equipped with two designs of double stirrers. Three high-speed stirrers were used: A 315, Smith turbine, and Rushton turbine. The following operating parameters were changed: gas flow rate, stirrer speed, and solid concentration. The volumetric mass transfer coefficient was determined using the dynamic gassing-out method. In the range of the measurements conducted, this coefficient was strongly affected by both the presence and the concentration of particles in the system. Generally, a low concentration of particles in the system, equal to 0.5 mass %, caused an increase of the volumetric mass transfer coefficient values for both stirrer configurations compared to a system without solids whilst more particles (2.5 mass %) caused a decrease of this coefficient. It could be supposed that an increase of slurry viscosity affected the decrease of the volumetric mass transfer coefficient at higher solid concentration. An empirical correlation was proposed for volumetric mass transfer coefficient prediction. Its parameters were fitted using experimental data. Presented at the 35th International Conference of the Slovak Society of Chemical Engineering, Tatranské Matliare, 26–30 May 2008.     

Parametric Study of a Pressure Swing Adsorption Process

The performance of a pressure swing adsorption (PSA) process for production of high purity hydrogen from a binary methane-hydrogen mixture is simulated using a detailed, adiabatic PSA model. An activated carbon is used for selective adsorption of methane over hydrogen. The effects of various independent process variables (feed gas pressure and composition, purge gas pressure and quantity, configuration of process steps) on the key dependent process variables (hydrogen recovery at high purity, hydrogen production capacity) are evaluated. It is demonstrated that many different combinations of PSA process steps, their operating conditions, and the feed gas conditions can be chosen to produce an identical product gas with different hydrogen recovery and productivity.     

Effect of small particles on the near-wall dynamics of a large particle in a highly bidisperse colloidal solution

We consider the hydrodynamic effect of small particles on the dynamics of a much larger particle moving normal to a planar wall in a highly bidisperse dilute colloidal suspension of spheres. The gap h(0) between the large particle and the wall is assumed to be comparable to the diameter 2a of the smaller particles so there is a length-scale separation between the gap width h(0) and the radius of the large particle b>h(0). We use this length-scale separation to develop a new lubrication theory which takes into account the presence of the smaller particles in the space between the larger particle and the wall. The hydrodynamic effect of the small particles on the motion of the large particle is characterized by the short time (or high frequency) resistance coefficient. We find that for small particle-wall separations h(0), the resistance coefficient tends to the asymptotic value corresponding to the large particle moving in a clear suspending fluid. For h(0)>a, the resistance coefficient approaches the lubrication value corresponding to a particle moving in a fluid with the effective viscosity given by the Einstein formula.