Packing Characteristics for Mass Transfer in a Rotating Packed Bed

This work investigated the mass transfer of a rotating packed bed (RPB) with emphasis on the effects of the packing's size, shape, material, and surface property. Experimental results show that there is no obvious relationship between a t and k L a . Among the various shapes of the packings, the mass transfer coefficients of Raschig rings and Intalox saddles are lower than those of the others, while the k L a of the wire meshes is the highest. As to materials, the mass transfer coefficients are similar for acrylic, glass, ceramic, and stainless steel beads. Besides, the k L a values of the hydrophobically treated packings are 8−27% lower than those of the original glass and ceramic packings. A modified correlation of k L a, which includes the effects of various packings, is proposed based on our RPB experimental results. Further, this correlation can also reasonably estimate most of the k L a data in the Higee literature.