Development of a New Packing Element in Packed Bed Absorber

The aim of this experiment is to develop a new type of packing element that can overcome the drawbacks of the current packing elements in the market for packed bed absorbers. The concept for the new packing element is making a rigid structure that holds the flexible structure together. This flexible structure should be fine and thin in order to give maximum mass transfer area while the rigid structure is to provide the strength to the packing element.
The new type of packed bed is developed by using wire gauze of 0.1cm shaped into a spring or helix shape and attached to a rod. The concept of this idea is that the spring will move up and down as the water and dry air are mixed together in the column. These movements is hoped to increase the area of transfer for mass transfer to take place.
After the development of the new packing element, experiments are carried in a self-developed column with air and water as the medium. Water is fed from the top of the column while air is fed from the bottom. Both of them will counter-currently in contact. The pressure drop and mass transfer coefficient is then determined.
The pressure drop for Helix Prime is high when compared with the other packing elements. 2 units of Helix Primes give almost two times the pressure drop of 1 unit of Helix Prime. Although the pressure drop is high for the Helix Prime, it is still in the acceptable region of 250 Pascal. From mass transfer rate and coefficient, 1unit of Helix Prime is inferior to the other packing elements I the industry in terms of effective interfacial for mass transfer, volumetric mass transfer coefficient and liquid phase mass transfer coefficient. However, the results were different when 2units of Helix Prime were bind together in parallel. The mass transfer rate and coefficients are comparable with those of the Bialecki Ring Metal 25mm, VSP Ring Metal 32mm, Pall Ring metal 25mm and Hiflow Metal 27mm. 2 units of Helix Prime is a performing better than 1 unit of Helix Prime. Overall, Helix Prime is comparable with the other packing elements in the industry.