Non-Newtonian fluids in spout-fluid beds: Mass transfer coefficient at low Reynolds numbers

Following on from the work of Anabtawi et al. (2003), this study examined how the volumetric liquid-phase mass transfer coefficient, k_La, of oxygen in air in three-phase spout-fluid beds was affected by varying the system parameters of bed height, bed diameter, gas velocity, and liquid velocity. The liquid used was 0.1% CMC solution, displaying a pseudo-plastic rheology. with 1.75mm glass spheres as packing. The values of the Shenvood number were lower than in previous studies (Anabtawi et al., 2003), in the range 9,000-186,000. Gas velocity had a similar effect on kLa as in a bubble column, with results also giving good agreement with previous work on two-phase and three-phase spouted bed systems. The correlation obtained for the effect of liquid velocity on k_La compared well with that of Schumpe et al. (1989). An increase in the height of packing increased k_La to the power of 0.319, with an increase in column diameter also causing an increase in k_LO, which is in agreement with the results of Akita and Yoshida (1973).