Hydrodynamics and mass transport in rotary disk contactors

Abstract

This paper reports a detailed study of the hydrodynamics involved in the operation of rotary disk contactors (RDC). New information is presented regarding the 'critical rotor speed' which divides the two hydrodynamic regimes of near constant and varying characteristic velocity of the dispersed droplet phase. Generalized correlations for prediction of characteristic velocity both above and below the critical rotor speed have been proposed under conditions of no solute transfer as well as solute transfer between the dispersed and continuous phases. Experimental data on mass transfer obtained in the two hydrodynamic regimes of RDC operation have also been correlated by the application of mass transport theory taking into account the factors affecting the interfacial area of contact, drop size, characteristic velocity and dispersed phase holdup.