Hydraulic characteristics of biological filters

Relationships between the removal efficiency and the hydraulic regimes of trickling filters were investigated. At low flow rates, where break-up of liquid jets occurs and drops form, completely mixed conditions prevail. For large hydraulic loadings effluent concentrations were calculated by means of a dispersed plug flow model. The ranges of validity of these models were studied theoretically. The effects of drop formation and breakage of liquid jets on the substrate utilization are expressed in terms of hydraulic and physical properties of the media and liquid.     

Unsaturated flow phenomena in porous medium as in a trickling filter

The relationship between substrate removal efficiency and dispersion characteristics of biological filters was investigated. Flow measurements were made using tap water and a synthetic feed solution. The importance of changes in fluid regime with regard to the simultaneous transport and reaction within the biological filter was demonstrated. The effect of drop formation and breakage of liquid jets on substrate utilization was shown.     

Mass transfer and substrate utilization in biofilm reactors

Mass transfer within microbial films is described using Monod-type biological kinetics in terms of properties of packing material and the feed solution. For this purpose, computer techniques have been developed for the numerical evaluation of the normalized biofilm mathematical model. A second-order partial differential equation, describing the mechanisms of dispersion phenomena inside the liquid layer, was then solved to determine the mass transfer coefficient. The application of the theory to earlier experimental data has also been demonstrated.     

Use of dimensionless parameters in design of cascade-connected reactors

General relationships applicable to a wide variety of bacterial mediated wastewater treatment processes have been developed using continuous-flow stirred-tank reactors (CSTR) arranged in series. Monod kinetics and mathematical models of reactors-in-series were used to represent the actual conditions resulting from varying degrees of axial dispersion and wastewater qualities. A numerical method was developed and effluent concentrations from an equivalent reactor series expressed based upon a plug-flow reactor with the same inlet and outlet conditions. Using the numerical results obtained, a nomogram has been derived that enables the required hydraulic and solids residence times for a reactor with a given dispersion number to be determined, when inlet and outlet conditions and the coefficients of Monod kinetics are known.     

浆态床甲醇合成反应过程数学模拟

在固定床等温积分反应器中回归了LP201催化剂上的甲醇合成反应动力学参数,在液固拟均相、全混流、气相流动形式分别为全混流、平推流的基础上建立了浆态床搅拌反应器中甲醇合成反应的数学模型. 模拟结果显示,根据所得动力学参数,计算结果与实验结果吻合良好;气相甲醇合成过程中气相流动形式明显影响反应效率;在液相甲醇合成过程中,气相的流动形式对反应影响不大;气液传质阻力对反应有较显著的影响,必须与反应过程同时加以考虑.     

Heat and mass transfer in calcination of limestone particles

The heat and mass‐transfer phenomena occurring during the calcination of limestone particles was studied by means of modeling. The applicability of two modeling methods for calcination was compared under different conditions. An unsteady numerical particle model with mass, momentum, energy balance, and shrinking core models were chosen for the study. The influence of different phenomena (chemical kinetics, advective and diffusive mass transfer, and heat transfer) in different conditions was evaluated with the aid of dimensionless parameters, and their relative importance was shown in a regime chart. Especially, the significance of advection was studied and its importance in high CO₂ concentration was observed. Local temperatures inside the particle were obtained by solving a dynamic energy balance in each particle layer including calcination reaction energy and conduction heat transfer. Noticeable temperature differences between constant ambient conditions and the particle were observed. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 58: 2563–2572, 2012     

生物填料塔处理餐厅污水传质反应研究

从传质和生化反应基本过程出发,将复杂的生物填料塔中三相传质-生化反应综合简化为一个有效生化反应过程,并得到其数学模型,模型综合参数———总传质有效因数ηt可通过容易测定的本征反应和实际反应速率来确定;实验研究了入塔污水CODC r和入塔水量对总传质有效因数影响,结果表明,入塔污水CODC r较高时,有较大的总传质有效因数;当入塔水量增大,传质效果增加,总传质有效因数增大。     

A water droplet size distribution dependent modeling of hydrate formation in water/oil emulsion

Experimental data on chord length distributions and growth rate during methane hydrate formation in water‐in‐oil emulsions were obtained in a high pressure stirring reactor using focused beam reflectance measurement and particle video microscope. The experiments were carried out at 274.2 K for 10–30% water cuts and agitation rates ranging from 200 to 500 rpm initially at 7.72 MPa. Rapid growth was accompanied by gradually decrease in rate. Free water was observed to become depleted during rapid growth while some water remained encapsulated inside hydrate layers constituting a mass transfer barrier. The apparent kinetic constants of methane hydrate formation and free‐water fractions were determined using a newly developed kinetic model independent of the dissolution rate at the gas–oil interface. It was illustrated that continued growth depends on distribution and transfer of water in oil‐dominated systems. This perception accords with observations of hydrate film growth on suspended water droplet in oil and clarifies transfer limits in kinetics. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 63: 1010–1023, 2017     

Separation of ultrasonic contributions and energy utilization characteristics of ultrasonic regeneration

The method of applying ultrasound to silica gel regeneration process has been proved to be able to improve regeneration efficiency and reduce regeneration temperature. The average regeneration rate can be increased by 10% and the benefits should owe to the special “vibration effect” and “heating effect” induced by ultrasound. In this article, a dynamic one‐dimensional mathematical model, validated by experiments, has been developed. It is then used to investigate energy utilization efficiency of the ultrasonic regeneration and respective contribution ratio of the two ultrasonic effects. The results show that the contribution ratio of vibration effect dominates and the energy utilization efficiency of silica gel regeneration with ultrasound can be 1% higher. The ultrasonic regeneration is more energy‐saving when the contribution ratio of vibration effect is greater. The results also show that the enhancement of regeneration brought by ultrasound is not a simple sum of their respective contribution. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 60: 1843–1853, 2014     

Comparison of mass transfer efficiency in horizontal rotating packed beds and rotating biological contactors

In this study, the mass transfer efficiencies of a novel horizontal rotating packed (h‐RPB) bed and the conventional disc‐type rotating biological contactor (RBC) were studied at four speeds and seven submergences. Pall rings of two different sizes (25, 38 mm), superintalox saddles and a wiremesh spiral bundle were used as packings in the h‐RPB. Volumetric gas–liquid mass transfer coefficients were determined by unsteady state absorption of atmospheric oxygen in de‐aerated water. Power consumption per unit liquid volume has been found for all geometries tested. The oxygen transfer efficiency values for the h‐RPB were found to be 2–5 kg kWh^?1 and for the disc RBC were found to be 1–2 kg kWh^?1. The performance of the h‐RPB was also compared with other gas–liquid contactors such as surface aerators. The study proves that the h‐RPB is a energy efficient alternative to conventional contactors. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

具有预制孔隙多孔介质冷冻干燥的多相传递模型

基于局部质量非平衡假设,建立了多相多孔介质热、质耦合传递数学模型,理论验证具有预制孔隙的初始非饱和多孔物料对冷冻干燥过程的强化作用。模型考虑了多孔介质的吸湿效应,构建了3种吸附-解吸平衡关系。模型使用基于有限元法的COMSOL Multiphysics软件平台数值求解,并与实验数据进行了比较。结果表明,初始非饱和冷冻物料能够有效地强化冷冻干燥过程。采用不同函数形式的吸附-解吸平衡关系模拟的干燥曲线均与实验数据非常吻合。通过分析物料内部的饱和度、温度和质量源分布,探讨了初始非饱和物料冷冻干燥过程的传热传质机理。初始非饱和物料的干燥速率控制因素主要是传热。模拟考察环境辐射温度对冷冻干燥过程影响的结果表明,所建模型具有良好的预测能力。     

亚硫酸盐强制氧化传递与化学反应动力学

在湿法烟气脱硫的过程中,吸收塔底部发生的反应主要是亚硫酸钙和空气或氧气之间的气液传递与化学反应过程,根据双膜理论模型,分析了该反应的吸收机理,用一种图像边界识别的方法分析亚硫酸盐强制氧化气液反应.在没有催化剂或固定钴离子催化剂浓度时,SO^2-₃存在临界浓度0.328 mol•L^-1.当SO^2-₃的浓度低于0.328 mol•L^-1时,过程为双膜控制,SO^2-₃的反应级数为1;当SO^2-₃的浓度大于0.328 mol•L^-1时,过程逐渐变为气膜控制,SO^2-₃反应级数为0.当固定SO^2-₃浓度时,催化剂钴离子的反应级数则受到气液传质的影响,分为几个阶段,且反应级数不同.     

Mass transfer, fluid flow and membrane properties in flat and corrugated plate hyperfiltration modules

Concentration polarisation, decreasing the efficiency in membrane separation processes, can be reduced by increasing mass transfer between membrane surface and bulk of the feed stream. Analogous to techniques used in plate heat exchangers efforts have been made to enhance mass transfer in a plate hyperfiltration module by using a corrugated membrane in stead of a flat one. The corrugations are pressed into an originally flat membrane. These corrugations do not only have an influence on the mass transfer, but also on such membrane properties as salt and water permeability. Corrugations enhance mass transfer in a more effective way than increase of flow rate does.

The effect of the corrugations on membrane properties shows a large spread. For corrugated membranes prepared by our group, flux increases of 100% at almost the same or even slightly higher retentions have been obtained.     

Kinetics of CO2 absorption by aqueous 3‐(methylamino)propylamine solutions: Experimental results and modeling

Experimental data and a model for the initial kinetics of CO₂ into 3‐(methylamino)propylamine (MAPA) solutions are presented in work. MAPA has been tested as an activator for tertiary amines with encouraging results. The measurements were performed in a string of discs contactor and, as no initial kinetics data are available in literature, additional measurements were carried out and in a wetted wall column. The obtained overall mass‐transfer coefficients from both apparatuses are in reasonable agreement. To obtain values for the observed kinetic constant, , the experimental results were interpreted using a two‐film mass‐transfer model and invoking the pseudo‐first order assumption. Needed experimental values for density, viscosity, and Henry's law coefficient for CO₂ were measured and are given. The results indicate that MAPA is almost twice as fast as piperazine, eight times faster than 2‐(2‐aminoethyl‐amino)ethanol (AEEA), and 15 times faster than monoethanolamine, when comparing unloaded 1 M solutions at 25°C. The observed kinetic constant was modeled using the direct mechanism. The final expression for can be applied for any concentration and temperature within the experimental data range, and, together with the presented physical data, comprises a complete model for calculating absorption fluxes. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 60: 3792–3803, 2014     

Insights into the industrial growth of cyanobacteria from a model of the carbon‐concentrating mechanism

With the advent of modern bioengineering tools, photosynthetic organisms are increasingly being engineered to produce chemicals from CO₂ sources, thereby creating a potential route of sustainable chemical production. Cyanobacteria have evolved a carbon‐concentrating mechanism (CCM) that enables growth at low‐environmental carbon concentrations. However at high‐carbon concentrations these benefits may not outweigh synthesis costs. Here, mass transport and kinetic modeling analyses were performed on two species of cyanobacteria as well as a hypothetical no‐CCM mutant. Modeling results correlated with published experimental data. Three conclusions were drawn from the analysis. Carboxysome geometry was unimportant due to the fast relative rate of diffusion of carbon species. Interspecies variations were largely due to active transporters. The no‐carboxysome cell approaches the wild‐type at 10% CO₂. Therefore, in high CO₂ environments the carboxysome and active bicarbonate transporters provide no benefit and a metabolic advantage could be achieved by eliminating the energy‐intensive CCM proteins. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 60: 1269–1277, 2014     

Assessment of the initial moisture content on soybean drying kinetics and transport properties

Several researchers have developed studies to obtain a mathematical model able to describe grain drying kinetics. However, most of these studies neglect the effect of grain initial moisture content on drying curves. In this study, we assessed the dependence of drying curves and mass transfer coefficients on this initial moisture, air temperature, and its velocity by measuring grain mass losses within time on a tray dryer. Mathematical models were adjusted and results indicated that initial grain moisture content has significant influence on drying curves and mass transfer coefficients.     

Fate of a sessile droplet absorbed into a porous surface experiencing chemical degradation

A general‐purpose multiphase and multicomponent computer model was developed for simulation of the spread, evaporation, and chemical reaction of sessile droplet(s) in porous substrates. In the model, chemical reactions were allowed in or between any of the liquid, gas, or solid phases present. The species mass and momentum conservation equations were solved on a finite difference mesh representing the domain. These equations were marched in time using the Runge–Kutta fourth‐order method. The model's function was studied via simulation of experiments, both those performed by the authors and found in the literature. These simulations demonstrated a quantitative match to the time history of product evolution and a similar spread of liquid reactants. The model may be particularly beneficial for predicting the extent of contamination and the possible threat outcomes of those chemical agents that are harmful when introduced into the environment. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 60: 2557–2565, 2014     

Mathematical modeling of the partial hydrogenation of vegetable oil in a monolithic stirrer reactor

Experimental and theoretical studies on the partial hydrogenation of vegetable oil in a monolithic stirrer reactor are reported. A complete mathematical model of the reactor was developed, including hydrogenation and isomerization kinetics, catalyst deactivation, external gas–liquid and liquid–solid as well as internal mass transfer. The experimental studies were carried out in a Pd/Al₂O₃/Al monolithic stirrer reactor, at a wide range of temperatures (353–373 K), pressures (414–552 kPa), and catalyst loadings (0.00084–0.00527 kg_Pd,exp m^?3). Based on this model, simulated data can be used to evaluate the catalyst (Pd/Al₂O₃/Al) and the hydrogenation process in consecutive catalytic tests under different operating conditions. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 60: 3524–3533, 2014     

冷冻干燥过程强化中冷冻阶段优化的研究进展

冷冻干燥产品质量高,但时间长、能耗高。本文综述了冷冻干燥过程强化中冷冻阶段的优化方法,控制冷冻速率、调节冰晶成核和退火处理可以获得大而均匀的冰晶从而提高升华干燥阶段速率,但物料内部比表面积的减小会降低解吸干燥阶段速率,这类常规的冷冻阶段优化方法对弱吸湿性的物料有一定的强化效果。有机溶剂具有较高的蒸气压,作为共溶剂时可以增加传质推动力,但较低的有机溶剂残留量要求阻碍了其进一步应用。“初始非饱和多孔介质冷冻干燥”的技术思想是将液体物料首先制备成具有一定初始孔隙的冷冻物料,然后再进行冷冻干燥。物料具有的初始孔隙为水蒸气的迁移提供了便捷的通道,而且纤薄的固体基质也有利于结合水的解吸,可以同时强化升华干燥阶段和解吸干燥阶段。该技术思想是过程低消耗和产品高质量的完美结合,为解决冷冻干燥过程速率低的问题提供了新的方案。