On Mass Transfer from a Newtonian Fluid to a Swarm of Adsorbing Spheroidal Particles for High Peclet Numbers
Authors |
F.A. Coutelieris, V. Burganos, A.C. Payatakes |
Publication Year |
1993 |
Journal Name |
J. Colloid Interface Science |
Volume |
161 |
Pages |
43-52 |
Citations |
11 |
Research Area |
Modelling of Transport Processes |
Abstract:
The problem of mass transfer from a Newtonian fluid stream to a swarm of adsorbing stationary solid spheroidal particles under creeping flow conditions is considered. The «spheroid-in-cell» model is used for the representation of the swarm and the axis of symmetry is assumed parallel to the approaching uniform stream. An analytical solution to the convective diffusion equation for high Peclet number is obtained using Levich's method. Simple analytical expressions are derived for the dimensionless concentration, the local Sherwood number, and the thickness of the diffusion layer in terms of the Peclet number, the porosity of the swarm, and the position on a meridian plane. It is found that for prolate spheroids-in-cell the diffusion film thickness is minimal at the stagnation point as in the case of spheres-in-cell. However, in the case of oblate spheroids-in-cell the diffusion layer thickness becomes minimal at positions between the stagnation point and the equator. Calculated values of the overall mass transfer coefficient indicate that the adsorption rate is higher for oblate spheroids-in-cell than for spheres-in-cell and prolate spheroids-in-cell, assuming either the same volume, or the same surface area. The mass transfer coefficient increases with decreasing prosity of the swarm for all geometries studied.