Wetted Wall Column

Aim
Determination of liquid phase mass transfer coefficient in a wetted wall column
using Air Water System
Apparatus Required
Air Water Wetted wall column
Introduction
A wetted wall column is essentially a vertical tube with means of admitting liquid
at the top and causing it to flow downwards along the inside wall of the tube, under the
influence of gravity and means of admitting gas to the inside of the tube, where it flows
through the tower in contact with the liquid. In absence of ripple formation at the liquid
surface, the interfacial area, A, is known and form drag is absent.
Theory
The mass transfer coefficient, K
a
, can be measured in a wetted wall column in
which the area of contact between two phases is known and boundary layer separation
does not take place. A wetted wall column also provides useful information on mass
transfer to and from fluids in turbulent flow.
Various dimensionless groups that control the phenomenon are
Reynolds number, N
Re
= dG/
Schmidt Number, N
sc
= /D
Sherwood Number, N
Sh
= Kd/D
Where,
G = Gas mass velocity, kg/m
2
s
D = Diffusivity coefficient, m
2
/s
d = tube diameter, m
K
a
= mass transfer coefficient.
For turbulent flow mass transfer to pipe wall involving evaporation of liquids in wetted
wall columns, Gilland and Sherwood proposed the correlation
44 . 0 81 . 0
) 023 . 0 (

,
_

,
_

,
_

d
dV
Pd
D
K
G

(1)
For
N
Re
= 2000 3500
N
Sc
= 0.6 2.5
P = 0.1 3 atm
The known flow rate of air at a measured humidity is brought into contact with a film of
water at a certain temperature and vopr pressure. Moisture is absorbed by the air from
water film and the resultant humidity of the exit air and the temperature and vapor
pressure of the entry water measured. The rate of diffusion through the gas film, N
A
, is
given by
m a A
P A K N ) (
(2)
Where,
K
a
= gas film coefficient, kg mole of water transferred. m
2
/h per atmospheric partial
pressure difference.
A = wetted surface of column = dL
(P)
m
= Log mean partial pressure driving force across the ends of the column.
The value of K
a
obtained experimentally can be compared with that predicted
from Sherwood Gilliland correlation.
44 . 0 81 . 0
) 023 . 0 (

,
_

,
_

,
_

d
dV
Pd
D
K
G

(3)
Procedure
1. Switch on the pump to allow the circulating water to flow and regulate the flow
using the valve provided.
2. Measure the water flow rate by the rotameter provided.
3. Start the air circulation and measure the flow rate of air.
4. Note down the wet and dry bulb temperature of air at regular intervals to calculate
the humidity.
5. Also measure the temperature of the water flowing in.
6. Repeat the experiments for different flow rates and temperatures
Formula Used
( ) O P P
P
Humidity
H T
O H
2
2
29
18

1
]
1

,
_

,
_

2
1
1 1
2
1
1
ln
1
1
y
y
y y
y y
y V
PA K
i
i
G
44 . 0 81 . 0
) 023 . 0 (

,
_

,
_

,
_

d
dV
Pd
D
K
G

For the top section
( ) ( ) [ ]
water of fraction mole
a
a
y
+

29
1
18
18
1
For the bottom section
( ) ( ) [ ]
water of fraction mole
b
b
y
+

29
1
18
18
2
from the steam tables, corresponding to water inlet and outlet temperature, calculate the
vapor pressure.
Vapor pressure of water at inlet temperature = P
1
bar
Vapor pressure of water at outlet temperature = P
2
bar
( )
2
2 1
P P
P
avg
+

T
avg
i
P
P
y
, Where P
T
is 1 bar
1
]
1

,
_

,
_

2
1
1 1
2
1
1
ln
1
1
y
y
y y
y y
y V
PA K
i
i
G
Where,
P = 1 bar
A = dL
V = molar flow rate of air [mass flow rate / molecular weight]
Also calculate the theoretical value of K
G
using Sherwood Gilland Equation
Report the following
1. Experimental value of Mass transfer coefficient
2. Theoretical value of mass transfer coefficient using Sherwood Gilliland
correlation
3. Compare the experimental and theoretical values.
4. Five industrial uses of wetted wall column
5. Give any five additional inferences
Observation for wetted wall column
Name: Date:
Group Number:
S.No T
1
T
2
T
3
T
4
T
5
T
6
Air Flow rate,
m
3
/hr
Water flow rate,
m
3
/hr
Specification
T
1
= inlet water temperature
T
2
= outlet water temperature
T
3
= dry bulb temperature of inlet air
T
4
= wet bulb temperature of inlet air
T
5
= dry bulb temperature of outlet air
T
6
= wet bulb temperature of outlet air
Diameter of the column, d = 45 mm
Length of the column, L = 1000 mm