Efficient mass exchange between liquid and gaseous phases is the key to
successfully
performing a range of different chemical engineering operations.
Prof. M. V. Rane and his student of Department of Mechanical Engineering
have developed an efficient contact device to help speed up and improve the
processes for which it is used. A low cost compact contacting device developed
provides greater surface area of contact between two fluids. It has multiple
capabilities of large heat and mass transfer area between air, gas or liquid
streams. The device was shown to have no carryover of liquid into the out
going streams of gas or air. It did not have any flooding problem as well.
This novel design of the device allows it to be of use to efficiently
separate gases from liquid, regenerate liquid desiccants, use in distillation
columns,
rectification
columns, absorption refrigeration systems and other diverse applications
in chemical processes industry. It can
also be used in combination of appropriate devices in applications such
as humidifiers, dehumidifiers and air-conditioning
devices.
The contact device consists of a disk
mounted on a shaft, a trough to hold
the liquid in which the contacting disk
is partially submerged. It also has tubes
in thermal contact with the liquid in the trough, a hood with a chimney
to aid air or gas to move over the contacting disks.
The trough has a supply and drain facility for filling and emptying.
An objective of the research was to make an contacting
device that incorporates surface density as high as 600 m2 mass transfer
area /m3 which is far greater and superior
to conventional Rauschert Hilflow rings that have a surface density of
210 m2 mass transfer area /m3 (designed for high
performance packing).
The device is compact, sturdy and rigid. It has no carryover of liquid
i.e, the stream of gas or air that flows out does not
have any liquid which is an important feature. The contacting device
has been made such that it can operate with pressure
drop across it from 30 to 60 Pa. The device has a flow through system
with great efficiency. The liquid in the trough
can be pumped at will with no limit for the volume. The device can
be adapted to be used for liquid or gas applications
for heating, cooling, conditioning or changing humidity based on the
application it is used for. The system has an advantage
of operating with low power consumption as well.
Indian patent application no. 153/MUM/2002 Patent grant no. 203949
Inventors: M V Rane and S V Kota Reddy
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