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The development of a new LDF mass transfer correlation for adsorption in fixed beds

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Abstract

In this study, a general LDF model has been introduced to predict mass transfer rate through adsorbents with the macropore diffusion as the controlling step. Using this relation eliminates the need for solving the time-consuming diffusion equation to find mass transfer rate through the porous adsorbent. The proposed relation was successfully applied in the general mathematical model for an adsorption fixed bed. This correlation was adjusted to be capable of predicting the mass transfer rate in a wide range of gas adsorption systems reported in the literature. This correlation was used in 21 different adsorbent and adsorbate systems. The results demonstrated an excellent agreement between the correlation results and those obtained using Fickian diffusion equation. By applying the developed LDF model instead of diffusion model, a great deal of CPU time can be saved. The latter characteristic will be very important when this model is employed in commercial software such as Aspen Adsorption or Prosim Dynamic Adsorption Column.

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Abbreviations

b :

Adsorption affinity parameter (kPa−1)

b ref :

Reference adsorption affinity parameter (kPa−1)

C b :

Adsorbing component concentration in the bed space (mole/m3)

C b,initial :

Initial concentration of adsorbing component in the bed space (mole/m3)

C p :

Adsorbing component concentration within the intraparticle space (mole/m3)

C in :

Inlet concentration of Adsorbing component in gas phase (mole/m3)

C ref :

Reference concentration of Adsorbing component in gas phase (mole/m3)

D ax :

Axial dispersion (m2/s)

D eff :

Effective diffusivity in particle (m2/s)

D m :

Molecular diffusivity (m2/s)

D k :

Knudsen diffusivity (m2/s)

D ref :

Reference diffusivity (m2/s)

d p :

Particle diameter (m)

K LDF :

LDF model mass transfer coefficient (s−1)

P :

Partial pressure of adsorbing component (kPa)

q c :

Equilibrium concentration of adsorbing component in skeleton of solid phase(mole/m3)

q p :

Average adsorbing component concentration in solid phase (mole/m3)

q s :

Saturation capacity of adsorbing component in solid phase (mole/m3)

\(q^{*}_{in}\) :

Equilibrium concentration of inlet adsorbing component in solid phase (mole/m3)

q * :

Equilibrium concentration of adsorbing component in solid phase (mole/m3)

r :

Radial distance in particle (m)

R p :

Particle radius (m)

t :

Time (s)

U :

Interstitial velocity (m/s)

U ref :

Reference velocity (m/s)

X :

Dimensionless group

Y :

Dimensionless group

Z :

Axial distance in bed (m)

ε b :

Bed porosity

ε p :

Pellet porosity

ρ s :

Particle skeleton density (kg/m3)

γ :

Axial dispersion correlation coefficient

τ :

Tortuosity factor

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support provided by National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Isfahan, P.O. Box 81746-73441, Isfahan, Iran

    M. Gholami, M. R. Talaie & S. F. Aghamiri

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  1. M. Gholami
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  2. M. R. Talaie
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  3. S. F. Aghamiri
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Correspondence to M. Gholami or M. R. Talaie.

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Gholami, M., Talaie, M.R. & Aghamiri, S.F. The development of a new LDF mass transfer correlation for adsorption in fixed beds. Adsorption 22, 195–203 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10450-015-9730-4

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