Experimental Investigation Of Thermo Hydraulic Performance Of Rotating Packed Bed Using Air Water System

Abstract

Rotating packed bed (RPB) has a great potential for process intensification in newlinethermal systems. However, the available literature is only focused on its mass transfer newlineaspects and no study shows its heat transfer aspects. In rotating packed bed, the water newlineflows outwards from the inner periphery of a rotating rotor by centrifugal action and air newlinetravels inwards from the outer periphery by imposed pressure gradient making a counter newlinecurrent interaction with each other. The rotation of the rotor gives control over the water newlinedistribution unlike in conventional columns where gravity is the only driving force. In newlinepresent work, rotating packed bed (RPB) have been explored for process intensification newlinein thermal systems using air-water as working fluids. The thermo-hydraulic performance newlineof rotating packed was carried out considering the air flow rate range varying from newline0.007625 kg/s to 0.020175 kg/s, water flow rate varies from 0.033 kg/s to 0.133 kg/s and newlinerotational speed considered is 0-2000 rpm. The thermal performance parameters such as newlinecooling range, approach, water evaporation rate, heat transfer rate, Merkel number, and newlineeffectiveness for the RBP were experimentally evaluated for the given airflow rate, water newlineflow rate and water inlet temperature (35, 40, and 45°C) and rotational speed. The newlineoptimum result for all the thermal performance parameters was observed at 1200 rpm. At newlinethe optimum condition, the observed value of cooling range was 15 and#778;C, the value of newlineapproach was 12.2 and#778;C, water evaporation rate was 0.000904 kg/s, effectiveness was 0.49 newlineand the Merkel number was 0.426. The results were found to be in agreement with CTI newline(Cooling Technology Institute) performance curve charts, confirming the feasibility of newlineRPBs to be used as thermal systems. newline