NEW MODEL FOR HETP IN DISTILLATION PACKED-COLUMNS

The number of theoretical plates in the distillation of multicompontent mixtures can be determined with a great degree of efficiency by experiments in laboratory packed columns. Mass transfer was studied on binary mixtures in a laboratory column with an internal diameter of 31 mm, using wire helices. A new model for calculating HETP or the number of theoretical plates per meter of height has been developed from the results, taking into consideration the surface tension differences between the components. The effect of the liquid loading on the efficient interfacial areas was determined by experiments at L/V < 1. Problems of scaling up are discussed in the use of the model on industrial packed columns.