chemical engineering research and design 8 9 ( 2 0 1 1 ) 13081320

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Chemical Engineering Research and Design

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/cherd

Model for the prediction of liquid phase mass transfer of

random packed columns for gasliquid systems

Jerzy Mackowiak
ENVIMAC Engineering GmbH, Im Erlengrund 27, 46149 Oberhausen, Germany

a b s t r a c t

The following work presents a new, generally applicable model for description of the mass transfer in the liquid
phase for packed columns lled with random dumped non-perforated and lattice-type packing with size between
12 and 90 mm for gasliquid systems in operating range up to ooding point.
The new equation for evaluation of the volumetric mass transfer coefcient in the liquid phase L ae was derived
on the basis of the assumption that liquid ows down in packed bed mainly in the form of droplets and that effective
interfacial area ae depends on hold-up in packed bed. The relation between the uid dynamics and the mass transfer
is shown based on the channel model with a partly open structure.
The experimentally derived values for the effective mass transfer area in different types of random packings ae
are in good agreement with the calculation based on the new model. It is therefore possible to separate the product
L ae into liquid phase mass transfer coefcient L and effective interfacial area ae .
2011 The Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Random packing; Lattice-type packing; Liquid phase mass transfer coefcient; Separation performance;
Effective mass transfer area; Extended channel model

1. Introduction of new lattice-type packing elements of different types such

In the eld of separation technology, the use of random,
lattice-type packings in addition to structured packings has
been gradually increasing in the last 20 years.
The new generation of lattice packings, so called Nor-Pac
was rst presented by Billet and Mackowiak (1980) in 1979 at
a conference held during the German trade fair Envitec. Con-
trary to expectations, initial experimental results (Billet and
Mackowiak, 1980) showed that the mass transfer behaviour
of the 25 mm Nor-Pac with small specic packing area a was
similar to that of 25 mm plastic Pall rings (1962) with large
specic packing area a, which were analysed for compari-
son. The loading capacity of the new lattice packings was
signicantly higher than that of Pall rings, whilst the pres-
sure drop p/H and the specic pressure drop p/NTUOV of
the lattice packings was considerably lower, yet they were
found to have the same separation efciency when applied
under the same operating conditions. As a result, a number
as IMTP ring (1977), Hiow ring (1982), Envipac (1984), Flexi-
max (1991), Mc-Pac (1991) or Raschig Super Ring (1995) were
produced by leading packing manufacturers, see Fig. 1. These
lattice packings were initially made of plastic, followed later
by models made of ceramic and metal (Billet and Mackowiak,
1980, 1982a, 1985; Mackowiak, 1990, 1999, 2010; Billet et al.,
1983).
A comprehensive overview of the methods used to describe
the resistance of the mass transfer in the liquid phase is avail-
able in the literature (e.g. Onda et al., 1968; Bornhtter and
Mersmann, 1993; Wang and Yuan, 2005; Kolev, 1976), but there
is no method explaining and correlating the inuence of form
and geometric data of packing on the volumetric mass transfer
coefcient L ae in liquid phase.
The separation of the product L ae was rst achieved
by Zech and Mersmann (1978) (Kolev, 1976) and Shi and
Mersmann (1984, 1985). Based on the assumption of rivulet
formation, they derived new correlations for determining

Abbreviations: RSR, Raschig Super ring; PR, Pall ring; BR, Biaecki ring; CMR, Cascade Mini Rings; RR, Raschig ring; IS, Intalox saddle;
Ralu, Ralu Flow ring; K, ceramic; M, metal; PP, polypropylene.

Presented on 9th Distillation & Absorption Conference in Eindhoven, The Netherlands on 1215 September 2010.

Tel.: +49 2089410440; fax: +49 208941044100.
E-mail address: j.mackowiak@envimac.de
0263-8762/$ see front matter 2011 The Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.cherd.2011.01.021
 chemical engineering research and design 8 9 ( 2 0 1 1 ) 13081320 1309

were applied to gasliquid systems, but they required the

Nomenclature knowledge of the individual packing constants that must be
evaluated from experimental data for each packing type and
a geometric surface area of packing per unit vol- size. The correlations are valid in the operating range up to
ume [m2 /m3 ] loading line.
ae interfacial area per unit volume [m2 /m3 ] The aim of this study is to develop a generally applicable
Cp constant, Eq. (7a) [] method for determining the volumetric mass transfer coef-
d packing diameter [m] cient in the liquid phase L ae for gasliquid systems in whole
dh hydraulic diameter [m] operating range up to ooding, valid for different types of clas-
dS column diameter [m] sic, non-perforated as well as for lattice-type packing elements
dT mean droplet diameter acc. to Sauter [m] and that can be used to predict the separation efciency for
DL diffusion coefcient in the liquid phase [m2 /s] any type of packing based only on specic packing-related
FV gas load factor in relation to full column cross data.
section, FV = uV V 0.5 [Pa0.5 ]
g acceleration of gravity [m/s2 ] 2. Deriving a model for determining the
hL liquid hold-up in relation to total free packing volumetric mass transfer coefcient in the
volume VS , hL = VL /VS [m2 /m3 ] liquid phase L a below the loading line
H packing height [m]
l mean contact path [m] Visual observations and measurements of droplet propor-
N packing density [1/m3 ] tions have shown that in packed bed liquid primarily occurs
p operating pressure [bar] in the form of droplets rather than rivulets (Bornhtter and
t temperature [ C] Mersmann, 1991, 1993; Charpentier et al., 1968). As the size of
uV linear gas velocity in relation to full column the packing element increases, the amount of the droplets in
cross section [m/s] the packed bed also increases, an observation that was con-
uL specic liquid load in relation to full column rmed as early as 1960 by Charpentier et al. (1968) and by
cross section [m/s] studies carried out by Bornhtter and Mersmann (1991, 1993)
VL liquid volume [m3 ] in connection with large diameter lattice packings, d 2550.
VS free packing volume, VS = (( d2S )/4) H [m3 ] For this reason, it can be expected that mass transfer occurs
non-stationary and can be described by model that is valid for
Greek symbols
disperse systems. Droplets generated in the random packing
mass transfer coefcient [m/s]
fall in the gas phase, which constitutes the continuous phase.
P form factor []
The new method is derived on the basis of a model,
 contact time [s]
whereby the liquid in a random packing ows down along the
,  density, density difference  = L V [kg/m3 ]
surface of the individual packing elements in the form of thin
L surface tension [N/m]
rivulets, whereas between the individual packing elements
 kinematic viscosity [m2 /s]
the liquid ows down mainly in the form of droplets, providing
the area for mass transfer. In addition, the following assump-
Indices
tions were made: in the case of droplet fall in the packing,
cal calculated value
deformed droplets with a Sauter diameter d32 = dT are formed
exp experimentally derived value
below the loading line in accordance with the correlation
L relating to liquid
Fl relating to operating point at ooding point 
L
S relating to operating point above loading point, dT = CT ; CT = 1 [m] (1)
 g
0.65 FV /FV,Fl 1
V relating to gas
(dT > 1 mm). The validity of this equation for falling droplets
Dimensionless numbers has been conrmed by numerous experimental results
Fo = 4 DL /d2T Fourier number for liquidliquid systems (Billet and Mackowiak, 1982b,
FrL = u2L a/g Froude number 1988; Mackowiak and Billet, 1986) and gasliquid systems
ReL = uL /a L Reynolds number (Bornhtter and Mersmann, 1991, 1993).
ShL = L dT /DL Sherwood number The effective mass transfer area ae is identical to the
We/FrL = L g/a2  L Weber/Froude number droplet surface, whilst the total liquid hold-up hL corresponds
ScL = L /DL Schmidt number to the liquid hold-up of the droplets. As a result, it is possible
to determine the interfacial area per unit volume using the
correlation of Eq. (2)

the effective interfacial area per unit volume ae for ceramic hL

spheres, Raschig rings and saddles.
Following on from the correlations for mass transfer pre-
diction for liquidliquid systems derived by Mackowiak and
Billet (1982/84) (Billet and Mackowiak, 1982b; Mackowiak and
Billet, 1986), which are based on the model of non-stationary
diffusion for short contact times, it was in the 1990s that
dimensionless correlations, developed by Billet and Schultes
(1993) as well as Bornhtter and Mersmann (1991, 1993),
ae = 6 [m2 /m3 ] (2)
dT
which is valid for disperse systems.
The liquid owing down the edges of the packing in the
form of droplets has a composition that is not in equilibrium
with the surrounding gas phase. This disequilibrium results
in a mass transfer, which is highest at the beginning and
decreases along the ow length l, which is referred to here as
1310 chemical engineering research and design 8 9 ( 2 0 1 1 ) 13081320

Fig. 1 Overview of packing elements investigated.

the contact path. During the formation of rivulets, mass trans- In order to determine the contact time  acc. to Eq. (6) for a
fer is interrupted and only recommences as new droplets are given specic liquid load, the liquid hold-up hL and the contact
formed. The process is therefore non-stationary, as described path l must be known.
by the well-known model of Higbie (1935) The contact path l can be determined for random packings
using the volumetric mass transfer coefcient L ae derived
 from measurements, as has been done for liquidliquid sys-
2 DL
L = [m/s] (3) tems (Billet and Mackowiak, 1982b; Mackowiak and Billet,
 
1986). This means that in practice the contact path l can be
seen as a mean value that is valid for a whole series of mea-
As a result, the mass transfer coefcient L for mass transfer in
surements.
the liquid phase can be determined acc. to Eq. (3) if the contact
Acc. to Mackowiak (2010), the liquid hold-up hL in random
time  is known.
packings for turbulent liquid ow ReL 2 in the range below
The contact time  in Eq. (3) is described by the time that
loading point FV 0.65FV,Fl can be described by Eq. (7a):
a droplet needs to cover the distance l between two contact
points within the packing. Hence:  1/3
1/3 a u2L
hL = Cp FrL = Cp for Cp = 0.57 [m3 /m3 ] (7a)
l g
= [s] (4)
uL
The liquid hold-up hL according to Eq. (7a) decreases as the size
The absolute droplet velocity uL is expressed by Eq. (5): of the packing is increased, whilst the liquid load uL remains
constant, see as an example Fig. 2, and hL is equivalent to uL
uL raised to the power of 2/3.
uL = [m/s] (5)
hL Based on the evaluation of more than 1000 experimental
data points for the liquid hold-up using systems with different
By substituting Eq. (5) in Eq. (4) we obtain Eq. (6): physical properties (Mackowiak, 2010), the constant Cp in Eq.
(7a) was found to have a mean value of Cp = 0.57. The exper-
l hL imental values (Mackowiak, 2010) are reproduced by Eq. (7a)
= [s] (6)
uL for the operating range below the loading line with a relative
 chemical engineering research and design 8 9 ( 2 0 1 1 ) 13081320 1311

Fig. 2 Flow structure in random packing: (a) for ceramic packing elements acc. to Charpentier et al. (1968); (b) for different
packing elements acc. to Bornhtter and Mersmann (1991, 1993); (c) droplet fall in packed column model.

error of 2025% for different types of plastic packings with The product of the mass transfer coefcient L and the inter-
nominal sizes of 0.0150.090 m (Fig. 3). facial area per unit volume ae results from Eqs. (2) and (3).
For laminar liquid ow 0.16 < ReL < 2, the Eq. (7b) is valid acc. Substituting Eqs. (1), (6) and (7a) in Eqs. (2) and (3) leads to
to Mackowiak (2010): the following correlation for determining the volumetric mass
transfer coefcient L ae (8), valid for turbulent liquid ow
3
 3 1/3 ReL 2:
1/3
hL = a2/3 (uL L ) [m3 /m3 ] (7b)
4 g
 C 1/2  a 1/6  D  g 1/2
p L 5/6
L ae = 12 uL [1/s]
l g L
(8)

where the contact path l must be known for each packing type.

3. Experimental results

Table 1ad contains a list of technical data for different types

Fig. 3 Liquid hold-up hL as a function of the specic liquid
load uL valid for 1550 mm metal Pall rings in the range
FV 0.65FV,Fl (Mackowiak, 2010).
of packings investigated as well as the operating conditions
used in experiments carried out in columns with diameters
between 0.15 and 1.2 m and a packing height of H = 0.74 m,
some of which have been published previously (Billet and
Mackowiak, 1977, 1980, 1982a,b, 1985; Mackowiak, 1990, 2006;
Bornhtter and Mersmann, 1991, 1993; Mackowiak, 1975; Billet
et al., 1983). In addition, the table contains experimental data
available in the literature, e.g. data obtained by Bornhtter
and Mersmann (1991, 1993) using a plant with dS = 1 m and
H = 1.654 m, as well as data provided by Schultes (2001)
for Raschig Super rings, and by Sahay and Sharma (1973),
Dharwadkar and Sawant (1985), and Linek et al. (1983).
1312 chemical engineering research and design 8 9 ( 2 0 1 1 ) 13081320

Table 1 Overview of technical data of packings used for calculating volumetric mass transfer coefcient L ae acc. to Eqs.
(10) and (12), as well as form factors P , valid for (a) to (d).
Packing Symbol d 103 a N 103 dS (m) H (m) uL 103 , tL ( C) P ()
(m) (m3 /m3 ) (m2 /m3 ) (1/m3 ) fromto
(m/s)

(a) Classic, non-perforated packing elements

Raschig ring 15 0.626 239.3 0.10 1.0 1.711 2040 0
Ceramic  50 0.782 100 6300 0.3 0.75 122.5 20 0
Intalox saddle 38 0.757 125.7 18.9 0.3 1.4 111 21 0
ceramic
(b) Packing elements with slightly perforated walls
15 0.964 380 243.2 0.3 0.87 111 22.5 0.28
 25 0.954 223.5 53.9 0.3 1.46 111 21.5 0.28
s = 0.4
Pall ring metal
 25 0.942 232.1 55.6 0.15 1.3 0.7910 22.5 0.28
35 0.946 150 19.6 0.3 1.4 1.28 19.5 0.28

38 0.952 149.6 15.8 0.3 1.46 111 20 0.28

50 0.95 115.4 6.4 0.3 1.36 112 22.5 0.28
 25 0.894 238 55.18 0.3 1.4 110 23 0.309
Pall ring plastic 35 0.905 160 18 0.3 1.4 110 20 0.309
(PP)
50 0.93 111 6.85 1.0 1.65 118 20 0.309

50 0.92 110 6.7 0.3 1.35 115 22 0.309

Pall ring ceramic 50 0.78 120 6.4 0.22 1 112 20 0.430

12 0.934 403 443 0.3 0.9 111 17.5 0.158

Bialecki ring 25 0.94 238 55 0.15 1.5 0.7928 20 0.208

metal
25 0.939 227 52.6 0.3 1.4 17 22 0.208

35 0.95 155 19 0.3 0.74 230 17.5 0.158

50 0.97 111.7 6.7 0.3 1.45 111 20 0.158

53.5 0.968 101.5 6 0.3 1.21.4 0.828 16.5 0.208

(c) Lattice packings with moderately perforated walls

 45 0.957 104.7 6.8 0.3 1.45 111 20 0.474
Top-Pak
75 0.979 75.0 2.8 1.0 1.65 118 20 0.424

VSP ring metal

 32 0.972 200 33.5 0.3 1.46 112 23 0.38
50 0.982 95.3 7.15 0.3 1.46 112 20 0.38
Ralu-Flow 58 0.941 98.9 4.7 0.3 1.44 112 19 0.705

1.5 0.974 176.3 60.8 0.3 1.4 0.86 19.5 0.475

CMR metal
1 0.9712 232.5 158.5 0.3 1.4 112 22.3 0.475
CMR plastic 1 0.94 200.0 25.6 0.3 1.42 111 12.0 0.496

(d) Lattice packings with highly perforated walls

 27 0.965 198.4 37 0.22 1.2 115 24 0.509
Hiow ring metal
184 0.3 1.42 22.5
95.4 0.45 2
58 0.977 92.3 4.78 0.3 1.4 112 22.5 0.63
92.3 0.45 2 112 22.5
90 1.00 1.7 118 20
17 0.91 292 183.8 0.3 1.43 111 21 0.54

Hiow ring  28 0.92 192.5 46.1 0.3 0.9/1.4 110 22 0.54

plastic (PP)  50 0.935 100.0 7.02 1.0 1.65 128 20 0.7
 50 0.932 107.7 6.3 0.3 1.57 112 14 0.7
90 0.955 61.0 1.415 1.0 1.65 128 20 0.694
90 65 0.956 64.5 0.3 1.5 111 20 0.736
Hiow ring 20 (A) 0.77 261 110.74 0.3 1.2 212 20 0.587
ceramic (1985)
 chemical engineering research and design 8 9 ( 2 0 1 1 ) 13081320 1313

Table 1 (Continued)
Packing Symbol d 103 a N 103 dS (m) H (m) uL 103 , tL ( C) P ()
(m) (m3 /m3 ) (m2 /m3 ) (1/m3 ) fromto
(m/s)

50(A) 0.815 88.8 5.12 0.3 1.3 110 20 0.54

Hiow ring 20 (B) 0.696 227 87.1 0.3 1.15 17 23.5 0.492
ceramic (1988)
38 (B) 0.788 119.2 13.2 0.3 1.46 111 20 0.55

32 0.941 124 49.2 0.3 1/1.4 111 22 0.590

ENVIPAC PP
58 0.964 91.7 6.3 0.3 1.45 111 22 0.676

0.96 54.2 1.81 0.3 1.45 111 23.5

80 0.676
0.954 61.1 2.05 1 1.6 112 20
DTNPAC  70 0.936 112 10.2 0.3 1.45 111 20 0.676
CMR turbo metal 1.5 0.976 167.7 60.3 0.3 1.4 111 21 0.475

22 27 0.914 243 68.8 0.3 0.9 111 20 0.694

Nor-Pac (NSW
ring) plastic
17 0.88 332 221.6 0.3 0.9 111 20 0.694

28 0.9215 191.7 47.4 0.3 1.4 210 17 0.694

38 0.932 138 20.5 0.3 1.4 0.86 16.5 0.694

 50 0.95 95 7.71 0.3 1.4 112 22.5 0.694
Hackette, PP 45 0.932 131 12 0.3 1.4 122 15 0.665

3.1. Effect of the packing form on mass transfer in the 3.3. Evaluation of the contact path l for different
liquid phase packing forms

Fig. 4a shows that the mass transfer coefcient in the liq-
uid phase L ae is highly dependent on the type of packing.
Contrary to expectation, 17 mm Hiow rings made of plastic
with a smaller specic geometric surface area of a = 292 m2 /m3
and 17 mm Nor-Pac made of plastic with a = 332 m2 /m3 were
found to have a considerably higher separation efciency than
12 mm metal Bialecki rings with a specic surface area of
a = 403 m2 /m3 and metal 15 mm Pall rings with a = 380 m2 /m3 .
This would suggest that in random packings containing lattice
packing elements, the geometric surface area of the packing
available for mass transfer is used more efciently and the
size of the geometric surface area of the packing a is not the
mainly factor that determines mass transfer. In classic ran-
dom packings, not all of the surface area appears to be used
for mass transfer. In addition, Figs. 4, 5ad, 6ad and 7 show
the signicance of the packing form, i.e. the bigger the perfo-
ration of the packing element, the better the mass transfer in
liquid phase.
3.2. Inuence of the packing size and type on mass
transfer in the liquid phase
This was discussed in a previous study (Mackowiak, 2006,
2010) on the modelling of the uid dynamics of packed column
lled with lattice packings, where the effect of the individual
packing elements on the uid dynamics of random packings
was described by an extended channel model with open
structure (Mackowiak, 2006, 2010). Acc. to this model, a ran-
dom packing is characterised by three parameters, which are:
the geometric surface area of the packing a, the void fraction
and the form factor P , which is dened as the ratio of
the open area to the total surface area of the packing element
(Mackowiak, 2006, 2010).
In the case of classic packing elements with non-perforated
walls, as Raschig rings and saddles, P is given as P = 0 acc.
to Mackowiak (2006, 2010). Fig. 8 shows that for the same
hydraulic diameter dh their contact paths are almost twice as
long as those of lattice packings with a very open structure
acc. to Fig. 5d with form factors of P = 0.550.7.
The numerical values for the contact paths l in Eq. (8) for
the investigated packings were determined on the basis of the
experimental data of this work shown for example in Figs. 47.
Plotting the contact path l on the hydraulic diameter dh of
the packing gives the following correlation (9) for the packings
investigated acc. to data presented in Figs. 47:

2/3 1/2
Eq. (8) and the experimental results, shown as an example in l = 0.115 (1 P ) dh [m] (9)
Figs. 57, reveal two parameters that have a main effect on
mass transfer coefcient L ae in the liquid phase: the geo- where P is a parameter relating to a different characteristic
metric surface area of the packing per unit volume a and form of packing element, s. Table 1ad, and dh is hydraulic
the contact path l. diameter of packing.
1314 chemical engineering research and design 8 9 ( 2 0 1 1 ) 13081320

Fig. 4 Volumetric mass transfer coefcient L ae as a

function of the specic liquid load uL , valid for: (a)
randomly lled 15 mm Pall rings, 12 mm Bialecki rings and
17 mm Hiow rings as well as 17 mm Nor-Pac made of
plastic. System: CO2 water/air, 293 K, dS = 0.3 m, H = 0.9 m;
(b) randomly lled 25 mm Pall rings, Bialecki rings and
Hiow rings made of metal. System: CO2 water/air, 1 bar,
293 K, dS = 0.3 m, H = 1.36 m.

Fig. 8ad shows that not only the size and type of the pack-
ing element has a signicant effect on the contact path. It
can be noted that the more open the structure of the packing
Fig. 5 Volumetric mass transfer coefcient L ae as a
element, the shorter the contact paths l.
function of the specic liquid load uL , valid for randomly
Substituting the relations of Eq. (9) in Eq. (8) leads to the
lled packing elements made of metal: (a) VSP rings size 1
new, generally valid Eq. (10) for the prediction of volumetric
and 25 mm Pall rings; (b) VSP rings size 2 and 38 mm Pall
mass transfer coefcient L ae in columns with random pack-
rings; (c) 50 mm Pall rings, Bialecki rings and Hiow rings.
ings below the loading line FV 0.65FV,Fl and for turbulent
System: CO2 water/air, 1 bar, 293 K, dS = 0.3 m, H = 1.36 m.
liquid ow ReL 2:
(3) and (6)

15.1
 D  g 1/2  a 1/6  3  1/6  D  g 1/2
L 5/6
L ae = uL [1/s] 17.3 a1/3 L L
(1 P )
1/3 1/4
dh L g L ae = 1/3 1/4

(1 P ) dh g L
(10)
2/3
uL [1/s] (11)
see Fig. 6.
For laminar liquid ow 0.16 < ReL < 2, the Eq. (11) will be Fig. 9af shows the comparison between the calculation based
obtained after substitution of Eqs. (7b) and (9) into Eqs. (2), on Eqs. (10) and (11) and the experimental data of this work
 chemical engineering research and design 8 9 ( 2 0 1 1 ) 13081320 1315

Fig. 6 Volumetric mass transfer coefcient L ae as a function of the specic liquid load uL , valid for different types of
packing elements made of plastic (PP): (a) 32, 56 and 80 mm ENVIPAC; (b) 45 mm Hackettes, 45 mm Nor-Pac, Hiow rings,
Hiow Super rings, Ralu rings and Pall rings; (c) Dtnpac size 2; (d) 58 mm Ralu Flow, 50 mm Pall rings, 50 mm Nor-Pac.
System: CO2 water/air, 1 bar, 295 K, dS = 0.31.0 m, H = 1.451.6 m.

plus data collected by Bornhtter and Mersmann (1991, 1993),
Budzinski and Kozio (2000) and Schultes (2001).
Eqs. (10) and (11) allow consolidating the information on
mass transfer in the liquid phase in random packings contain-
ing packing elements of different types and sizes, enabling us
to predict the L ae values for different types of modern and
classic packings sufciently enough for practical applications
with a mean error of 13% in the range below loading line for
more then 800 experimental points.
The comparison between experimental data for 50 mm
Hiow rings and calculated values according to Eq. (10) as well
as to various models available in the literature is shown in
Fig. 10.
4. Model for determining the volumetric
mass transfer coefcient in the liquid phase
(L ae )S above the loading line and below the
ooding point
Based on the assumption that in the range above the loading
line, i.e. for high gas velocities FV > 0.65FV,Fl acc. to Mackowiak
(2010), the droplet diameter dT remains acc. to Eq. (2) constant,
1316 chemical engineering research and design 8 9 ( 2 0 1 1 ) 13081320

As a result, the quotient (L ae )S /(L ae ) can be expressed as

a function of the relative column load FV /FV,Fl . The experimen-
tal values listed in Fig. 12a and b can be described according
to data presented in Fig. 12 using the following empirical cor-
relation (13) for uL = const.:

  
FV
(L ae )S = (L ae ) 1 + 0.65
FV,Fl
uL =const
 
FV
= (L ae ) 0.35 + [1/s] (13)
FV,Fl
uL =const

By substituting Eq. (10) in Eq. (13), we obtain Eq. (14):

15.1
 D  g 1/2  a 1/6
L
(L ae )S = 1/3 1/4

(1 P ) dh L g
 
FV 5/6
0.35 + uL [1/s] (14)
FV,Fl
uL =const
Fig. 7 Volumetric mass transfer coefcient L ae as a
function of the specic liquid load uL , valid for different The evaluation of approx. 40 experimental points in the range
packing elements with nominal dimensions of 1575 mm above the loading line reveals a congruence between the cal-
made of ceramic. System: CO2 water/air, 1 bar, 295 K, culation based on Eq. (14) and the experiment, with a relative
dS = 0.10.3, H = 0.751.4 m. error (L ae )S of less than 15%. These experimental results
are also shown in Fig. 9ad (Table 2).
the volumetric mass transfer coefcient L ae acc. to Eq. (14) is
equivalent to the liquid hold-up hL raised to the power of 1/2
5. Validation of model
1/2
L ae hL (12)
5.1. Dimensionless representation of the correlation
Fig. 11 shows that in the range above the loading line for for determining the interfacial area per unit volume and
FV > 65% of the ooding point, the ratio of liquid hold-up hL,S /hL the mass transfer coefcient L
for moderate liquid loads is just a function of the relative
column load FV /FV,Fl . This information applies to packing ele- Eqs. (1), (2) and (7a) lead to Eq. (15) for determining the inter-
ments of different types, materials and sizes. facial area per unit volume for turbulent liquid ow ReL 2 in

Fig. 8 Effect of hydraulic diameter dh on mean contact path l for types of packings investigated: (a) for classic,
non-perforated packing elements for P = 0; (b) for classic, perforated packing elements P = 0.150.30; (c) for lattice packings
with perforated walls for P = 0.300.55; (d) for lattice packings with highly perforated walls for P 0.550.70.
 chemical engineering research and design 8 9 ( 2 0 1 1 ) 13081320 1317

Fig. 9 Comparison between calculation acc. to Eqs. (10) and (12) and experimental values for: (a) classic, non-perforated
packing elements, P = 0; (b) packing elements with partly open structure, P = 0.150.30; (c) lattice-type packing elements
with open structure, P = 0.300.55; (d) lattice-type packing elements with open structure, P = 0.550.70; (e) packing
elements with highly open structure: Raschig Super rings (RSP), P = 0.28.

the operating range below loading line: 1

ShL = 2.26 1/2
(16)
FoL
ae
 We 1/2  We 1/2
1/3 Cp =0.57 1/3
= 6 Cp FrL 3.42 FrL [] (15)
a FrL FrL

which describes the experimental data well, as illustrated in

Fig. 13. By substituting Eqs. (7a) and (9) in Eqs. (6) and (3), we obtain
Correlation (16) provides a dimensionless representation of Eq. (17) for predicting of the mass transfer coefcient in the
the mass transfer coefcient L for short contact times (Higbie, liquid phase L in random packings of any type and nominal
1935; Brauer, 1971): dimension, valid for turbulent liquid ow ReL 2 below the
1318 chemical engineering research and design 8 9 ( 2 0 1 1 ) 13081320

Fig. 10 Volumetric mass transfer coefcient L ae as a

function of the specic liquid load uL , valid for randomly
lled 50 mm Hiow rings made of plastic (PP). System:
CO2 water/air, 293 K, dS = 0.31.0 m, H = 1.41.65 m.
Comparison between experimental points [A,7,8] and Eq.
(10) (straight line) as well as different literature methods
(Billet and Schultes, 1993; Bornhtter and Mersmann, 1993;
Kolev, 1976; Zech and Mersmann, 1978; Shi and
Mersmann, 1984; Onda et al., 1968).

loading line:

1/2
5.524 a1/12 DL g1/6 1/6
L = 1/3
uL [m/s] (17)
 (1 P ) 1/4

For laminar liquid ow ReL < 2 below the loading line we obtain
following Eq. (18) for determining the interfacial area:

1/3
1/2 g1/6 L 1/3
ae = 6.49 a2/3 1/2
uL [m2 /m3 ] (18)
L Fig. 12 Volumetric mass transfer coefcient (L ae )S /(L ae )
as a function of the relative gas load FV /FV,Fl in the entire
operating range up to ooding point, valid for: (a) 25 mm
metal Biaecki and Hiow rings, metal CMR rings no. 1.5
and 20 mm Hiow rings made of ceramic; (b) 50 mm Pall
and Hiow rings made of plastic.

Table 2 Experimental conditions and limits of validity

of models as per Eq. (14) for ReL 2.
d = 0.0120.090 m
dS = 0.101.4 m
dS /d 6
H = 0.714 m
a = 54.2403.0 m2 /m3
= 0.6960.987 m3 /m3
ReL = 2900
FV /FV,Fl 1
FrL = 5.5 106 1.4 102
We/FrL = 0.84.5
Fig. 11 Ratio of liquid hold-up hL,S /hL as a function of the ScL = 510010,000

relative gas load, valid for different packing elements acc. to

Mackowiak (2010).
 chemical engineering research and design 8 9 ( 2 0 1 1 ) 13081320 1319

Fig. 13 Effective interfacial area per unit volume ae as a function of the specic liquid load uL , valid for different packing
elements. Comparison between Eq. (15) (continuous line) and experimental data of different authors. (a) 28 mm Nor-Pac and
25 mm Tellerette made of plastic (Krtsch, 1981 and Krtsch and Krten, 1979); (b) 35 mm Pall rings and 38 mm Nor-Pac
made of plastic; (c) 25 mm metal Pall rings (Sahay and Sharma, 1973).

and Eq. (19) for the mass transfer coefcient in the liquid a large range of physical properties, details are shown in the
phase L : literature (Mackowiak, 2010). For the prediction of the mass
transfer coefcient L Eq. (17) is derived. Therefore it is nec-
3.842 DL
1/2 essary to determine the effective mass transfer area. It is the
1/3
L = 1/3 1/4 1/6 1/6
uL [m/s] (19) area formed by droplets that determines the interfacial area
(1 P ) dh (3/g) a1/3 L
per unit volume ae /a in the random packing for laminar and
turbulent liquid ow in the range of ReL 900 acc. to Eqs. (15)
6. Conclusions and (18).

On the basis of the presented model, according to the assump-

tion that droplet ow occurs in packed columns lled with
random packings, combined with the application of the
model of non-stationary diffusion for short contact times
(Mackowiak and Billet, 1986; Higbie, 1935), it has been shown,
that it is possible to calculate the volumetric mass transfer
coefcient L ae for packings of any type and size without
evaluation of specic empirical packing constants which have
to be derived from experiments. The equations according to
(10) and (11) are valid in the range below the loading line
for turbulent and laminar ow respectively and have been
extended to the range up to ooding point according to Eq.
(14). The presented mass transfer correlations as well as the
interconnected hydraulics correlations have been tested with
various absorption and various distillation systems covering
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