chemical engineering research and design 8 9 ( 2 0 1 1 ) 19091918

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Chemical Engineering Research and Design

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CFD and experimental studies of single phase axial

dispersion coefcient in pulsed sieve plate column

N.S. Kolhe a , Y.H. Mirage a , A.V. Patwardhan a , V.K. Rathod a, , N.K. Pandey b ,
U. Kamachi Mudali b , R. Natarajan b
a Department of Chemical Engineering, Institute of Chemical Technology, N.P. Marg, Matunga, Mumbai 400019, India
b RR&DD, Reprocessing Group, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, Tamilnadu 603102, India

a b s t r a c t

This paper intends to study the single phase axial dispersion in pulsed sieve plate column using a combination of
computational uid dynamics (CFD) simulations and experimental measurements. Experiments and CFD simulations
were conducted on 0.076 m diameter pilot scale column having standard geometry of 0.05 m plate spacing, 0.003 m
hole diameter and 0.21 fractional free area. The effect of density of tracer solution and radial probe position on
axial dispersion coefcient has been studied to ensure precision of the experimental measurement method. The
effect of pulse velocity from 0.01 to 0.025 m/s and supercial velocity of water from 0.01 to 0.03 m/s has been studied.
Simulations were carried out using commercial CFD software, FLUENT 6.2.16, with standard k model for turbulence.
An unsteady state tracer injection technique was used for axial dispersion measurement. The range of velocity ratio
( = Reo /Ren ) employed in this work was 14 which is very low. Therefore the effect of supercial velocity, Vc was found
to be greater than pulse velocity. These results were critically compared with published data and it has been found
that single phase axial dispersion coefcient is directly proportional to effective velocity (Af + 0.5 Vc ). The presented
CFD predictions and validation with experimental data will provide useful basis for further work on single phase
axial dispersion with various geometrical parameters and understanding the two phase ow patterns in pulsed sieve
plate column.
2011 The Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Pulsed sieve plate column; Axial dispersion; CFD; Single phase ow; Dispersion model; RTD

1. Introduction to get high mass transfer coefcient. In the nuclear indus-

Liquidliquid extraction commonly known as solvent extrac-
tion is a technique for separating the components of a solution
by distribution between two liquid phases. Its applications
cover a wide range of industries, e.g. chemical, petroleum,
pharmaceutical, metallurgy, nuclear industries, food process-
ing, and biotechnology. The range of extraction equipments
is available for solvent extraction. However, the selection of
proper extractor is very important depending upon the nature
of the duty.
Columns are the most frequently used extraction equip-
ments to carry out this unit operation. Pulsed sieve plate
column provides high turbulence which assist to breakdown
droplets. Consequently, the large interfacial area is offered
try, the air pulsing system can be located outside the highly
radioactive area for processing of spent reactor fuel. Due to the
absence of internal moving parts, this is the only mechanically
agitated column extractor which does not require mainte-
nance. Therefore, it has found a prime importance in nuclear
power industry. Pulsed sieve plate columns provide more uni-
form distribution of individual phases across the column cross
section with less tendency toward ow channeling which
causes the easier scale up as compared to columns with
rotating agitators (Godfrey et al., 1988). Due to greater ef-
ciency, the pulsed columns are more compact and also have
smaller liquid hold-up as compared to packed and sieve plate
columns. It seems probable that these advantages will lead
to an extension of pulsed sieve plate columns to chemical,

Corresponding author. Tel.: +91 22 33612020; fax: +91 22 33611020.
E-mail addresses: vk.rathod@ictmumbai.edu.in, virendrakrathod@gmail.com (V.K. Rathod).
Received 26 March 2010; Received in revised form 20 January 2011; Accepted 26 January 2011
0263-8762/$ see front matter 2011 The Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.cherd.2011.01.020
1910 chemical engineering research and design 8 9 ( 2 0 1 1 ) 19091918
biochemical, petroleum and metallurgical industries. Apart
from liquidliquid extraction, these columns can be used for
numerous applications. In particular, Sayer et al. (2002) have
successfully used the pulsed sieve plate column as a new type
of oscillatory-ow continuous reactor for emulsion polymer-
ization reaction with clear advantage over CSTR.
The process design of pulsed sieve plate extraction column
requires the determination of two independent parameters.
One is the cross section and geometry required to accom-
modate the specied ows without ooding and the other is
height of column required to achieve the desired degree of
extraction of solute from the feed. The former is determined
by the hydrodynamic considerations like drop size distribu-
tion, dispersed phase hold-up and ooding. Extensive work
has been carried out to study the effect of all these hydro-
dynamic characteristics and have resulted in well established
empirical correlations (Yadav and Patwardhan, 2008). The lat-
ter requires knowledge of the equilibrium relationship, axial
dispersion as well as the rate of mass transfer between the
phases.
Axial dispersion is a parameter which quanties the devi-
ation from ideal plug ow. The factors contributing the axial
mixing are presence of circulatory ow, molecular diffusion,
small eddies and channeling. The presence of axial mixing
results in a concentration jump at the inlet of each phase.
Failure to account for axial mixing may lead to large errors
in column dimensions. Li and Ziegler (1967) have reported
that the axial dispersion in extraction columns lowers the
process efciency as much as 30%. Therefore, it is necessary
to study the axial dispersion in pulsed sieve plate column
extensively. The axial dispersion data obtained by tracer injec-
tion method is available in the literature for relatively small
diameter columns as well as it is scattered. The knowledge
of the extent of axial mixing in pilot scale pulsed sieve plate
column is necessary for understanding the fundamental pro-
cesses involved in the mass transfer. In single phase ow the
frictional drag of column internals and circulation of phase
because of pulse causes non-uniform velocity proles in both
forward and backward directions relative to the average veloc-
ity of the ow. This leads to a distribution of residence times.
Thus, single phase axial dispersion gives an insight into the
fundamental mechanisms of two phase axial dispersion. Baird
(1974) and Rao et al. (1978) have studied the single phase axial
mixing experimentally with tap water. However due to the
complex nature, the pulsed sieve plate columns should be
designed empirically which gives the basic mechanisms of
hydrodynamics and local ow structures (Nitsch and Schuster,
1983).
Computational uid dynamics (CFD) contains numerical
methods and algorithms to solve and analyze uid ow. It
involves the solution of the conservation equations of mass,
momentum and volume fractions for different phases at a
number of grid points in the column. The grid points represent
different locations in the column geometry. By resolution of
grids to capture the different aspects of the ows, the complex
hydrodynamics of these columns can be studied thoroughly.
Since no CFD work have been carried out on axial dispersion in
pulsed sieve plate column, it is vital to investigate the pulsa-
tion ow by axial dispersion in these columns by experimental
as well as modeling tools. Also, the two phase ow becomes
more complex due to the droplet wake shading and induced
circulatory ow developed by dispersed phase, initially, only
single phase has been considered to develop the condence for
the single phase hydrodynamics. Hence, the work presented in
this paper covers the CFD simulation and experimental study
of the single phase axial dispersion.
2. Previous work
In pulsed sieve plate extraction column, the introduction
of pulsation causes greater mechanical energy dissipation
which resulted in increase in turbulence and axial disper-
sion. The efciency of these counter current columns reduces
substantially by axial dispersion which minimizes the axial
concentration gradients in each phase. Hence, the knowledge
of the extent of axial dispersion in pulsed sieve plate extrac-
tion columns is necessary for understanding the fundamental
processes involved in the mass transfer. Table 1 summarizes
column dimensions and operating conditions employed by
different investigators to study axial dispersion in pulsed sieve
plate column.
Miyauchi and Oya (1965), Novotny et al. (1970), Baird (1974),
Kim and Baird (1976), Rao et al. (1978), and Rama Rao and
Baird (1998) have experimentally studied the axial dispersion
in single phase ow and two phase counter ow. The vari-
ous measuring techniques like indicator colour change in an
acidbase reaction method, unsteady state pulse tracer injec-
tion method, the steady state tracer injection method have
been used by the different investigators. Normally, the con-
siderable effects of geometrical parameters like plate spacing,
fractional free area and operating conditions like pulse ampli-
tude and frequency on axial dispersion has been observed by
them. In case of single phase as well as two phase ow con-
ditions every researcher has found insignicant different ow
mechanisms which inuence an axial dispersion.
Kagan et al. (1973), Namecek and Prochazka (1974), Noh and
Kim (1980), Godfrey et al. (1988), Matsumoto et al. (1989), and
Ingham et al. (1995) have also studied the axial dispersion in
pulsed sieve plate column but the results obtained from all
this work was dissimilar and the data was scattered one.
Palma and Giudici (2003) have experimentally investigated
the axial dispersion coefcient for a single phase ow in
pulsed sieve plate column. The axial dispersion coefcient
was measured by residence time distribution (RTD) curves and
axial dispersion model. They have suggested that to offer the
better insight in more comprehensive understanding of the
pulsed ow and the mixing in perforated plates, the numeri-
cal simulations by computational uid dynamics (CFD) would
be helpful.
Nabli et al. (1997, 1998) and Monnier et al. (2003) have stud-
ied the ow pattern developed in the pulsed column by means
of CFD. Standard k turbulence model was used to solve the
equations. The CFD results obtained were generated with the
help of industrial code ESTET, developed at the National Labo-
ratory of Hydraulics (EDF Chatou-France) and commercialized
by the company SIMULOG. The structured and irregular mesh
was generated with 33 lines in radial direction and 14 lines in
axial direction. However, an internal geometry used was disk
and doughnut.
Yadav and Patwardhan (2009) have developed a CFD model
for sieve plate and pulsed sieve plate column of 0.05 m diam-
eter. They have predicted the effect of pulsing on column
hydrodynamics and the operating regimes and also predicted
the effect of pulse velocity on the hold-up of the dispersed
phase in pulsed sieve plate column except the study of axial
dispersion.
Table 1 Experimental studies of axial dispersion on pulsed sieve plate column: details of column dimensions and operating conditions.
Investigators Geometrical parameters Operating parameters Axial dispersion coefcient

D 103 (m) L 103 (m) h 103 (m) d 103 (m) (%) A 103 (m) f (Hz) Vc 103 (m/s) Vd 103 (m/s) E 104 (m2 /s)

chemical engineering research and design 8 9 ( 2 0 1 1 ) 19091918

Mar and Babb 50.8 1524 76.2152.4 1.583.175 23 0127 0.51 3.936.7
(1959)
Miyauchi and 32, 54 370,780,860 10, 12.5, 20, 1.5, 3 9.5, 19 015 0.43 0.495.9 0.431.35 0.42,0. 32
Oya (1965) 25, 30, 40, 50,
70, 100
Kagan et al. 56, 300 50, 100, 150 2.1 8.7 350 0.832.5 2.2 016
(1973)
Baird (1974) 150 3000 27.353 14.3 61 1030 0.552.5 0.972.83 2.743.62
Kim and 50.8 2550 27, 52.3, 79.7, 13.6, 14.3 4957 022.5 06 24
Baird (1976) 181
Rao et al. 50.8 1000 50, 100 3 23 016 0.5,0.67, 0.92 38 02 220
(1978)
Noh and Kim 108 1800 25.6, 50.1, 37.8, 59.2 1580 0.52 010 010 025
(1980) 74.8, 124, 197
Niebuhr and 80, 225 50 2 22 5.6311.3 0.8881.83 1.111 1.16.9 10
Vogelpohl
(1980)
Yu and Kim 102 3500 25.6, 51.2, 1.5 12.7,19.1, 0.35,0.71, 235
(1987) 76.8 25.4, 38.1 1.03, 1.44
Prvcic et al. 72.45, 151.2, 1000, 2000, 50, 50, 50 3.2, 3.2, 3.2 21.3, 22.7, 24 1123 0.52.4 0.96.3 0.96.0
(1989) 299.6 2000
Matsumoto 48 400 50 3 18 5, 10, 15, 20 0.251.67 110 240
et al. (1989)
Ikeda and 50 100 40 3 20 1.2 08.5 0.251.09,
Suzuki (1990) 0.51.5
Rama Rao 50.8 2300 26.5, 51.5, 12.7 57 714 07.1 6.95 06.1 210
and Baird 76.5
(1998)
Palma and 39.6 2400 25, 50, 100 3 22.3 525 0.24.5 0.92.7 05
Giudici (2003)

1911
1912 chemical engineering research and design 8 9 ( 2 0 1 1 ) 19091918

Taking into consideration the previous work on axial dis-

persion coefcient in pulsed sieve plate column rstly, it is
observed that the single phase dispersion coefcient values
provide an accurate reference point for the more difcult
and complex two phase ow. Therefore, it is signicant to
study the single phase dispersion coefcient in pulsed sieve
plate column to get the fundamental mechanisms and the
hydrodynamics of local ow structures. The experimental
investigation of such complex processes is very long and
expensive. Although an extensive work has been already car-
ried out on this domain, the existing results are contradictory
and scattered. Consequently, it is necessary to develop a CFD
model for axial dispersion and validate it with experimental
results to design pulsed sieve plate column accurately.
Since the axial dispersion coefcient in pulsed sieve plate
column with CFD is not carried out until now, it will be
noteworthy to comprehend the complex nature of local ow
patterns in such kind of contactors. Keeping in view of these
points, the objectives of the present work are,

1. To study the single phase axial dispersion in pulsed sieve

plate column using a combination of experimental mea-
surements and CFD simulations.
2. To develop a CFD model for predicting the single phase axial
dispersion in pulsed sieve plate column and compare the
simulated results with experimental one.
3. To ascertain the accurate experimental method for RTD
and axial dispersion, by studying the effect of density of
tracer solution and radial probe position.
4. To study the effect of supercial velocity and pulse velocity
on single phase axial dispersion coefcient in pulsed sieve
plate column.
3. Experimental set up and procedure
Fig. 1 Schematic representation of experimental set up of
pulsed-sieve plate column. (1) Column shell
(diameter = 0.076 m, length = 1 m), (2) Plate cartridge (hole
diameter = 0.003 m, plate spacing = 0.05 m, fractional free
area = 0.21 with triangular pitch), (3) Liquid disengaging
section, (4) Liquid distributor, (5) Tracer injection syringe,
(6) Concentration monitoring point, (7) Organic phase
outlet, (8) Aqueous phase outlet, (9) Pulse leg, (10) Rota
meter, (11) Ball valves, (12) Centrifugal pump, (13) Storage
tank, (14) Solenoid valve, (15) Electronic timer, (16) Pressure
regulator, (17) Compressor, (18) Jack leg.

3.1. Experimental set up

The schematic of pulsed sieve plate column used for the
present work is shown in Fig. 1. The glass column was made
of 0.076 m diameter cylindrical shell of 1.05 m length. The
plate cartridge of SS-316 was tted in the column with 20
plates. Each plate having 0.0016 m thickness and perforations
of 0.003 m diameter at 0.005 m triangular pitch was used. The
fractional free area of the perforations was 0.21. The plates
were arranged at 0.05 m distance with the help of spacers and
the 0.008 m diameter rod. The glass disengaging sections of
0.152 m diameter and 0.20 m in length were connected to the
both ends of the column. The provision of the circular perfo-
rated distributors for the inlet of both aqueous and organic
phase was made as shown in schematic. The continuous
phase owrate was measured by rotameter. The jackleg was
used to maintain the constant level of continuous phase in the
top disengaging section of the column to obtain the constant
supercial velocity. The pneumatic pulsation was employed
for the liquid in the column. A pulse leg of 0.0254 m diameter
and 1.8 m in length was connected at the base of bottom dis-
engaging section for pulsing the continuous phase. Solenoid
valve (3/2 way) operated by electronic timer and air regulator
was provided to get desired magnitude of pulse. The frequency
of the pulsation was varied by electronic timer. The nitrile gas-
ket of 0.008 m thickness was incorporated between the top
disengaging section and column to inject the tracer material
for the measurement of axial dispersion. The concentration
of inorganic tracer material was monitored using conductiv-
ity meter. The conductivity probe was tted at the distance of
0.08 m below the bottom plate of the column.
3.2. Experimental procedure
The pulsed sieve plate column was initially lled with tap
water. The pulsation system was started and the pulse ampli-
tude was adjusted at different values by controlling the
compressed air ow as mentioned in experimental set up. The
air owrate was increased to get the pulse amplitude from
0.01 to 0.025 m. The amplitude was measured by observing the
maximum displacement of water in pulse leg with the help of
scale xed on it. The proportional water level displacement in
actual column with respect to the difference in cross sectional
area was taken into account for pulse amplitude measure-
ment. The two different pulse frequencies of 0.83 and 1 Hz
were obtained by keeping 0.6 and 0.5 s on/off time respectively
by electronic timer operated 3/2 way solenoid valve. Water
was charged through the distributor provided in top disen-
gaging section at constant owrate obtained by rotameter. The
supercial velocity of water in the column was kept constant
by adjusting the jack leg at the desired height. The range of
supercial velocity of water studied was from 0.015 to 0.03 m/s.
Once the column attains steady state operation at the differ-
ent desired sets of operating parameters, for each run 5 ml
of 3 molal KCl solution was injected by syringe through the
 chemical engineering research and design 8 9 ( 2 0 1 1 ) 19091918 1913

nitrile gasket. This gasket was placed at 0.05 m above the top
Table 2 Column dimensions of experimental setup and
most sieve plate of the column. The effect of density differ- geometry used for simulation.
ence of tracer solution on RTD was veried using 0.3 molal
Geometrical parameters Experimental Simulation
KCl solution. The tracer concentration was monitored by con-
ductivity probe which was placed at 1.08 m length from tracer Column diameter (D) 0.0762 m 0.0762 m
injection point. Since the mixing cup method closely repre- Plate spacing (h) 0.05 m 0.05 m
sents closed boundary conditions, the average concentration Hole diameter (d) 0.003 m 0.003 m
Number of holes 136 136
in cross-sectional plane was measured at three different radial
Fractional free area () 0.21 0.21
distances i.e. 0.01 m, 0.02 m and 0.03 m from the axis of the Column height (H) 1m 0.3 m
column by changing the probe position. As an unsteady state Number of plates 20 4
tracer injection technique was used, the downstream con- Plate thickness 0.0016 m Negligible
centration of tracer was measured with respect to time until
the conductivity will return to the initial value. Concentra-
facilities with increasing grid size, only four plates were con-
tion versus time data has been generated by the experimental
sidered which were thought to represent the overall behavior
method and residence time distribution (RTD) curves were
of the column.
obtained.
Once the RTD curves have been obtained, certain parame-
ters like the mean residence time (t), variance ( 2 ) and mean 4.1. Geometry and grid generation
variance (  2 ) which were used to quantify the degree or extent
of mixing in continuous ow systems. These moments of RTDs A commercial grid generation tool, GAMBIT 2.2.30, was used to
which characterize the RTD with complete description of the create mesh geometry and to generate grids. Non-uniform grid
distribution instead of comparison of their entire distribu- was use for the given geometry. Finer grid of size 0.002 m was
tion have been measured. The mean residence time (the rst used near the plates while the rest of the geometric domain
moment of RTD) gives the average time the exiting uid ele- was meshed with a coarser grid of size 0.003 m. Tetrahedral
ments spend in the ow system. The variance (the second mesh scheme was used to generate these cells. This resulted in
moment of RTD) provides a measure of the spread of the dis- 876,741 unstructured tetrahedral grid elements for the entire
tribution and mean variance gives a measure of the relative column geometry (Fig. 2).
standard deviation of the distribution. The axial dispersion Single phase axial dispersion study was carried out on
model given by Levenspiel (1999) with closedclosed boundary the above mentioned geometry where water was used as
conditions has been used to evaluate axial dispersion coef- the uid. Water entered the column through the side inlet
cient, E. provided at the top section and left from the side outlet pro-
vided at the bottom. From the specied ow rate through
ti Ci the column, velocity at the inlet was calculated. The range
Mean residence time t in s = t = (1)
Ci of supercial velocity (Vc ) was taken from 0.01 to 0.03 m/s.
With this known supercial velocity and column horizontal
ti2 Ci cross sectional area, inlet velocity of water was easily found.
Variance =  2 = t2 (2)
Ci The column diameter was 0.0762 m and the inlet diameter
was 0.0254 m. Therefore, the inlet velocities calculated were
0.09 m/s and 0.27 m/s for supercial velocities of 0.01 and
2
 E   E 2 0.03 m/s respectively. Accordingly, velocity inlet boundary con-
Mean variance = 2 = =2 2 (1 eVC L/E )
t2 VC L VC L
(3)

A mean variance of zero would imply complete plug-ow mix-

ing while a non-zero mean variance implies that there is axial
dispersion or mixing caused by non-uniform or laminar veloc-
ity prole and molecular diffusion.

4. CFD modeling and solution strategy

The thought desirable to use the numerical simulation in the

present study is to verify the success of CFD for the simulation
of pulsed sieve plate column. The details of geometry used for
the CFD simulations are as shown in Table 2. In order to val-
idate the CFD model used, experiments were carried out on
the pilot scale pulsed sieve plate column. In the present work,
a cylindrical column of diameter 0.0762 m and height 0.3 m
has been simulated with single phase water. The other geo-
metrical parameters of pulsed sieve plate column were kept
identical as the experimental setup, which include column
diameter, plate spacing, hole diameter and percentage free
area. This was due to the observed fact that, once the ow pat-
tern is developed, it follows the same pattern in the rest of the Fig. 2 Column geometry with meshing and boundary
column. Due to the high requirements of the computational condition.
1914 chemical engineering research and design 8 9 ( 2 0 1 1 ) 19091918
dition was used at the water inlet. Since water was owing
vertically downward and coming out at atmospheric pres-
sure, boundary condition pressure outlet with 0 Pa (Zero Pascal
gauge) was taken at the outlet. The no-slip boundary condition
was given at column walls. Velocity inlet boundary condition
was given at the bottom of the pulsed column and a sinusoidal
pulse was applied at this point in the form of user dened
function (UDF) as used by Yadav and Patwardhan (2009)
Udin = Udo + Af sin(2ft) (4)
In Eq. (4), for single phase, Udo = 0 m/s.
4.2. Solution methodology
For the simulation purpose, commercial CFD software FLU-
ENT 6.2.16 was used. Second order unsteady formulation and
Standard k model was used for turbulence. In CFD simula-
tions, SIMPLE scheme for pressure-velocity coupling was used.
Equations of momentum, turbulent kinetic energy and tur-
bulence dissipation rate were discretised using second order
upwind, while standard scheme was used for pressure equa-
tion. The simulations were carried out for constant frequency
of 0.83 and 1 Hz. Pulse amplitude was varied in the range
of 0.010.025 m. In this way, the pulse velocity was varied in
the range of 0.010.025 m/s. Simulations were carried out by
varying the supercial velocity inside the pulsed sieve-plate
column. The range of supercial velocity (Vc ) was taken from
0.010.03 m/s.
A relaxation factor of 0.3 was used for momentum, turbu-
lence kinetic energy and turbulence dissipation rate while a
factor of 0.6 was used for pressure. The solution was initialized
with the column lled with water. The convergence criteria
of 103 were used for the residual levels in the solution. The
solution was iterated until convergence was achieved in every
time step, such that the residue for each equation fell below
103 . A step size of 0.01 s was taken. Initially column was sim-
ulated for a sufcient time that is nearly 3 times that of mean
residence time. The equations were allowed to converge dur-
ing each time step. For pulsation period, 50 iterations per time
step were carried out with 30005000 time steps, i.e. for 3050 s.
This ensured that the ow inside the column reached steady
state. After that the tracer was patched at the inlet of water
such that the injection time for the tracer was 0.01 s. The prop-
erties of the tracer were identical to those of the working uid.
The simulations were continued after the injection of tracer
material and the concentration of the tracer was monitored at
the outlet using surface monitor technique. The area weighted
average values of concentration were measured with respect
to time. For this, equations of species transport were solved in
the simulation and again the column was simulated for nearly
3 times that of mean residence time. This is because this time
is sufcient for the entire tracer injected (nearly 9899%) to
come out. Thus each simulation was carried out for 60100 s. A
pulse input given as a tracer inside the column, resulted in a C-
curve. The efuent concentration versus time curve (C-curve)
was plotted for residence time distribution (RTD) analysis and
compared with experimental RTD.
5. Results and discussion
In pulsed sieve plate extraction column, single phase axial
dispersion depends on geometrical as well as operating
parameters. For standard geometrical parameters like plate
spacing of 0.05 m, hole diameter of 0.003 m and fractional free
area 0.21 the effect of operating parameters like supercial
velocity and the pulse velocity has been studied experimen-
tally and numerically by CFD. Both the experimental runs
and the CFD simulations were carried out in the range of
pulse amplitude 0.010.025 m at two different frequencies
0.83 and 1 Hz. The range of supercial velocity studied was
0.010.03 m/s. For experimental measurements good repro-
ducibility for operating parameters like supercial velocity
and pulse amplitude has been maintained. The frequency was
to be set by electronic timer which yields the exact value
for every run. The standard deviation for experimental sin-
gle phase axial dispersion coefcients were in the range of
1015%.
5.1. Effect of density of tracer solution on axial
dispersion
For the validation of the CFD model development, accurate
experimental axial dispersion coefcient values were signi-
cant. Considering the contradictory and scattered data of axial
dispersion coefcient in the literature, it was necessary to
develop correct experimental method for evaluation of axial
dispersion coefcient. Keeping in view of this fact, all the pos-
sible care has been taken to avoid any error in experimental
measurement technique. The accuracy of the axial dispersion
coefcient measurement technique can be ensured using two
different densities of tracer solutions. It was accomplished by
taking 0.3 and 3 molal KCl solutions having density of 1034 and
1142 kg/m3 respectively. The results obtained in terms of RTD
curves for 0.3 and 3 molal KCl tracer solutions were identical as
shown in Fig. 3(A)(C). As a result of different concentrations
of tracer solution, the pick value of conductivity in RTD curve
was different but the moments of RTD curves and the values
of E in both the cases remains same as summarized in Table 3.
Though the two different tracer solutions were used, the sim-
ilarity in results have been observed due to very small volume
of tracer solution (5 ml) injected in relatively large volume of
column. Also because of turbulence created by oscillatory as
well as net ow, the tracer solution immediately dissolved in
water and the density difference between tracer solution and
water gets attened. Eventually, the RTDs and axial dispersion
coefcient for all the different sets of operating parameters
was attained using 3 molal KCl tracer solution.
5.2. Effect of radial probe position on axial dispersion
In case of closedclosed boundary conditions, mixing-
cup concentration measurement gives accurate RTD curves
(Levenspiel and Turner, 1970). In the present work, the tracer
concentration was monitored by mounting the conductiv-
ity probe in the experimental set-up. Hence, the average
tracer concentration was measured without disturbance as it
ows past a measuring plane. This average concentration in
cross-sectional plane was measured at three different radial
distances i.e. 0.01 m, 0.02 m and 0.03 m from the axis of the
column. The same concentration was detected by the con-
ductivity probe at all three different radial positions. The
moments of RTD curves as well as values of E were also iden-
tical as summarized in Table 4. It must be achieved due to
adequate mixing of tracer solution along the cross-section
throughout the 1 m length of the column with 20 sieve plates
at every 0.05 m distance. The results showing RTD curves at
different radial positions are as shown in Fig. 4. Consequently,
 chemical engineering research and design 8 9 ( 2 0 1 1 ) 19091918
Table 3 The values of moments of RTDs and axial dispersion coefcients for tracer solutions of different densities.
Operating parameters Mean residence time, t (s)
3 molal KCl 0.3 molal KCl
Vc = 0.01 m/s, Af = 0.01 m/s 115.67 106.49
Vc = 0.015 m/s, Af = 0.02 m/s 77.14 79.29
Vc = 0.025 m/s, Af = 0.025 m/s 40.09 40.31
Density of 3 molal KCl solution = 1140 kg/m3 and density of 0.3 molal KCl solution = 1018 kg/m3 .
the effects of all the supercial velocities and pulse veloci-
ties on axial dispersion have been observed by keeping radial
probe position at 0.01 m from the axis of column.
5.3. Comparison of F curves for experiment and CFD
simulation
The F curve is a function used for the normalized response
to a particular input. Normalized distribution functions are
usually used to compare the ow performance of different
size equipments. Since, different column lengths were used
in the experimental column and CFD mesh the comparison of
both the F curves have been made in terms of normalized con-
centration versus normalized time plots. F() plots have been
shown in Fig. 5(A) and (B) for two different sets of operating
parameters like Vc = 0.01 m/s, Af = 0.01 m/s and Vc = 0.025 m/s,
Af = 0.025 m/s respectively. The reasonable matching of the F
curves has been observed.
5.4. Effect of pulse velocity on axial dispersion
In the experimental study of single phase axial dispersion,
it was observed that the value of axial dispersion coefcient
varied at same value of pulse velocity (Af) by taking differ-
ent sets of individual values of pulse amplitude (A) and pulse
frequency (f). To avoid the uncertainty arises by this experi-
ence, the pulse frequency was kept constant at 1 Hz and only
pulse amplitude were changed in the range of 0.010.025 m.
The effect of pulse velocity on axial dispersion was studied at
four different supercial velocities (0.0150.03 m/s). CFD sim-
ulations were carried out at the same operating parameters
and the results were compared with the experimental mea-
surements. It can be seen from Fig. 6 that the CFD model
predictions are satisfactorily agree with experimental data.
This provides evidence that an unsteady state tracer injec-
tion technique for axial dispersion measurement can be used
for comparison with CFD model. It is observed that the main
discrepancy between experimental and CFD is at high pulse
velocity.
In general, an increase in axial dispersion coefcient was
observed with pulse velocity at all supercial velocities stud-
Table 4 Experimental study of moments of RTDs and axial dispersion coefcient at different probe positions for
Vc = 0.015 m/s and Af = 0.02 m/s.
0.01 m
Mean residence time, t (s) 77.14
Mean variance,   2 0.068
Axial dispersion coefcient, E 104 (m2 /s) 6.31
1915
Mean variance,   2 Axial dispersion coefcient,
E 104 (m2 /s)
3 molal KCl 0.3 molal KCl 3 molal KCl 0.3 molal KCl
0.062 0.059 3.45 3.35
0.068 0.065 6.31 6.1
0.11 0.11 15.66 15.4
ied. At low value of supercial velocity (Vc = 0.015 m/s) only
oscillatory Reynolds number was inuencing the ow pat-
terns. Therefore, slight increase in axial dispersion coefcient
was observed with pulse velocity. At high value of supercial
velocities (Vc = 0.020.03 m/s), the combined effect of oscilla-
tory Reynolds number (Reo ) and net ow Reynolds number
(Ren ) was resulted in high turbulence and consequently, the
increment in axial dispersion coefcient was substantially
high. The similar results were obtained in case of CFD pre-
dictions.
The relative effect of pulse velocity and supercial veloc-
ity on axial dispersion was also studied and the results
are shown in Fig. 6. These results were in agreement with
Matsumoto et al. (1989). They have found that the effect
of pulse velocity on axial dispersion coefcient was weaker
than that of supercial velocity. However, Baird (1974), Kim
and Baird (1976), Noh and Kim (1980), Godfrey et al. (1988),
Ingham et al. (1995) and Palma and Giudici (2003) have
observed that the effect of pulse velocity is greater than
any other parameters and the effect of supercial velocity
was very small on axial dispersion coefcient. In most of
the previous work mentioned, for the low range of super-
cial velocity studied (00.01 m/s), the reason for very small
effect on axial dispersion coefcient was no change in ow
patterns as the net ow Reynolds number may remains in
the same ow regime. According to Ingham et al. (1995)
under many circumstances the effect of continuous phase
supercial velocity observed on E was not large as Vc < 2 Af.
Nevertheless in the present work, the values of supercial
velocity and pulse velocity were in the same range. Hence
the effect of supercial velocity was substantial. Stonestreet
and Van der Veeken (1999) have found that, the velocity
ratio ( = Reo /Ren ) has important correlation with RTD curves.
Hence, the effect of velocity ratio was also studied on axial
dispersion coefcient. The range of velocity ratio employed
in this work was 14 which is very low. Therefore the effect
of supercial velocity, Vc was found to be greater than pulse
velocity. Similar results were observed in continuous oscil-
latory ow reactors by Stonestreet and Harvey (2002). They
have shown that unsteady ow patterns and characteristic
RTD are dominant over continuous net ow only for values
of Reo /Ren 4.
Radial probe position from axis
0.02 m 0.03 m
78.53 80.04
0.067 0.066
6.22 6.15
1916 chemical engineering research and design 8 9 ( 2 0 1 1 ) 19091918

Fig. 4 Comparison of RTD curves at different radial probe

positions.

Fig. 3 (AC) Comparison of RTD curves for tracer solutions

of different densities.

5.5. Effect of pulse frequency on axial dispersion Fig. 5 (A and B) Comparison of F() plots of experimental
coefcient RTD and RTD predicted by CFD simulation.

In experimental as well as CFD simulation runs the effect

of pulse frequency (f) on axial dispersion coefcient was
that the mechanical energy dissipation and Prandtl mixing
studied at constant pulse amplitude (A = 0.02 m) and at dif-
length inuences the axial dispersion coefcient by the rela-
ferent supercial velocities (Vc = 0.0150.03 m/s) as shown
tion,
in Fig. 7. For each supercial velocity an increase in the
value of E was observed with pulse frequency. According to
1/3
Kolmogoroff (1941), the isotropic turbulence theory suggest E = l4/3 Pm
 chemical engineering research and design 8 9 ( 2 0 1 1 ) 19091918 1917

and as per Ni and Pereira (2000) the mechanical dissipation

energy,
3
Pm (Af ) .

Therefore increase in pulse frequency results in increase of

mechanical energy dissipation which causes an increase in
turbulence and axial dispersion coefcient.
Fig. 8 shows the dependence of axial dispersion on
(Af + 0.5 Vc ). Several investigators namely Miyauchi and Oya
(1965), Kagan et al. (1973) and Baird (1974) have found that
E is directly proportional to effective velocity (Af + 0.5 Vc ). The
result obtained in the present study was also in line with other
researchers.

6. Conclusions

The effect of density of tracer solution and radial probe posi-

tion on axial dispersion coefcient has been studied in pulsed
sieve plate column to ensure the accuracy of experimental
method. For both studies, the results obtained in terms of
Fig. 6 Effect of pulse velocity on axial dispersion
RTDs and axial dispersion coefcients are identical. Thus,
coefcient.
the experimental method for RTD and axial dispersion has
been established. The effects of supercial velocity of water
and pulse velocity on single phase axial dispersion coef-
cient have been studied with the help of experiments and CFD
simulations. A CFD model has been developed for axial dis-
persion to understand the single phase ow patterns caused
by oscillation in pulsed sieve plate column and the model
has been validated by experimental results. The experiments
and numerical simulations were carried out with the same
geometry of column. The model is able to predict the effect
of supercial velocity of water as well as the pulse velocity. It
has been observed that both the oscillatory ow and the net
ow are inuencing the single phase axial dispersion coef-
cient. Since, the range of velocity ratio ( ) employed in this
work was 14 which is very low, the effect of supercial veloc-
ity, Vc was found to be greater than pulse velocity. An increase
in pulse frequency results in increase in turbulence and axial
dispersion coefcient. The range of axial dispersion coefcient
obtained in the study is from 5 to 20 104 m2 /s. It has been
also found that the single phase axial dispersion coefcient
is directly proportional to the effective velocity (Af + 0.5 Vc ) as
Fig. 7 Effect of pulse frequency on axial dispersion
revealed by the other investigators. These CFD predictions
coefcient.
and comparison with experimental data provide useful basis
for further work on single phase axial dispersion with vari-
ous geometrical parameters and understanding the two phase
ow patterns in pulsed sieve plate column. With this study, it
can be concluded that the developed single phase axial dis-
persion CFD model is viable and can be used condently for
calculating axial dispersion coefcient in pulsed sieve plate
column. This model can be used as basis for the development
of two phase axial dispersion model.

Nomenclature

A amplitude of pulsation (m)

Af pulse velocity (m/s)
Ci tracer concentration at ith interval (mol/m3 )
d hole diameter (m)
D column diameter (m)
Fig. 8 Dependence of E on the effective velocity of the E axial dispersion coefcient (m2 /s)
continuous phase in the presence of pulsation. f frequency of pulsation (Hz)
1918 chemical engineering research and design 8 9 ( 2 0 1 1 ) 19091918

F() fraction of tracer in exit stream Mar, B.W., Babb, A.L., 1959. Pulsed sieve-plate extraction column.
h plate spacing (m) Ind. Eng. Chem. 51, 10111014.
H column height (m) Matsumoto, S., Honma, S., Koga, J., Kobayashi, H., 1989. Axial
dispersion coefcient and mass transfer rate in pulsed
k turbulent kinetic energy (m2 /s2 )
column. J. Nucl. Sci. Technol. 26 (4), 473474.
L distance between tracer injection point and tracer Miyauchi, T., Oya, H., 1965. Longitudinal dispersion in pulsed
monitoring point (m) perforated-plate columns. AIChE J. 11, 395400.
l Prandtl mixing length (m) Monnier, N.B., Guiraud, P., Gourdon, C., 2003. Residence time
Pm power dissipation/unit mass (W/kg) distribution of droplets within discs and doughnuts pulsed
Ren net ow Reynolds number extraction columns via Lagrangian experiments and
simulations. Chem. Eng. J. 94, 241254.
Reo oscillatory Reynolds number
Nabli, M.S.A., Guiraud, P., Gourdon, C., 1997. Numerical
t time (s)
experiment: a tool to calculate axial dispersion coefcient in
ti time at ith interval (s) disc and doughnut pulsed extraction column. Chem. Eng. Sci.
t mean residence time (s) 52 (14), 23532368.
Udin inlet velocity of the dispersed phase (m/s) Nabli, M.S.A., Guiraud, P., Gourdon, C., 1998. CFD contribution to a
Udo inlet velocity of the dispersed phase without pulsing design procedure for discs and doughnuts extraction
(m/s) columns. Trans. IChemE 76, 951960.
Namecek, M., Prochazka, J., 1974. Longitudinal mixing in a
Vc supercial velocity of the continuous phase (m/s)
vibrating-sieve-plate column two-phase ow. Can. J. Chem.
Vd supercial velocity of the dispersed phase (m/s)
Eng. 52, 739749.
Ni, X., Pereira, N.E., 2000. Parameters affecting uid dispersion in
Greek letters a continuous oscillatory bafed tube. AIChE J. 46, 3745.
 dimensionless time (t/t) Niebuhr, D., Vogelpohl, A., 1980. Axial mixing in pulsed
fractional free area sieve-plate extraction columns. Ger. Chem. Eng. 3, 264268.
Nitsch, W., Schuster, U., 1983. Liquid/liquid-mass transfer at
turbulent energy dissipation rate (m2 /s3 )
swarms of droplets: kinetics of mass transfer in the system
 3.14159
uranylnitrate, nitric acid, tributylphosphate. Sep. Sci. Technol.
2 variance (s2 ) 18, 15091533.
 2 mean variance Noh, J.S., Kim, S.D., 1980. Axial dispersion in a pulsed extraction
velocity ratio column. J. Korean Inst. Chem. Eng. 18 (3), 141152.
Novotny, P., Prochazka, J., Landau, J., 1970. Axial dispersion study
of single phase. Can. J. Chem. Eng. 48 (8), 405410.
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