Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 1996, 35, 613-620
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Performance of a Hollow-Fiber Spiral Disk for Effective Gas Dispersion toward High Mass Transfer Rate† Katsumi Tsuchiya,* M. Hakim Haryono,‡ and Tahei Tomida Department of Chemical Science and Technology, The University of Tokushima, Tokushima 770, Japan
Hiroyuki Hatano Thermal Energy and Combustion Engineering Department, National Institute for Resources and Environment, Tsukuba 305, Japan
Hiroshi Oaki§ Research Division, Komatsu Ltd., Kanagawa 254, Japan
Gas-dispersive capability of a hollow-fiber membrane, manufactured specifically for the use in fine bubbles generation, is tested for attaining high gas-liquid mass transfer rate under lowgas-throughput, shallow-sparging (at depths < 0.7 m) conditions. The hollow fiber is wound in a plane spiral form, each of which can be piled in a cylindrical module. A bubble column is used in the presence as well as absence of a draft tube, which the module can fit to and serve as part of. To enhance the effectiveness in the module’s generating fine bubbles, electrolytes are added to the liquid phase, water. Over a superficial gas velocity range of 0.1-2 mm/s, the hollow-fiber module (in comparison to conventional perforated-plate distributors) demonstrates, even with moderate gas-supply pressures (