Liquid-film mass-transfer coefficient in a column equipped with structured packings

The effective mass-transfer efficiency in a column equipped with structured packings was investigated experimentally. The packings analyzed in the present work were Sulzer Mellapak 250Y, made of corrugated plastic or metal sheets, and Sulzer EX, made of plastic gauze. In the literature many works have been published on this topic, but they have mainly been oriented toward evaluating overall mass-transfer efficiency or the gas-side coefficient, leaving out closer examination of the liquid-side mass-transfer coefficient. The aim of the present work is to examine liquid film and to identify a relation that allows accurately evaluating the liquid film contribution to overall mass-transfer efficiency. Experimental results showed that column packing height affects the liquid-side mass-transfer coefficient at the usual industrial-scale liquid and gas flow rates. This result agrees with theoretical analysis on stable liquid rivulet flow.