Fluid ‐ particle mass transfer in a packed bed

Abstract

Mass transfer coefficients have been measured for air flowing through a bed of naphthalene pellets. Results were obtained for ⅜‐in. spheres and for ½, ⅜, and ¼‐in. cylinders in a bed 4 in. in diameter and packed to heights varying from 5 to 10 in. Radial concentration profiles were obtained for some conditions, from which the radial variation of the mass transfer coefficient was determined. The point‐values of k_g follow an equation of the form k_g = a G^b. From mixed outlet concentrations, values of k_gav and j_d, corrected for the effect of axial diffusion, have been obtained for all the pellet sizes as functions of mass velocity and Reynolds number, respectively.