ae = effective specific area for packing, m2/m3

aL = specific liquid surface area, m2/m3

ap = spefic surface area, m2/m3
C = constant for effective specific area
CL = constant for particle diameter calculation:
.4 for random packing
.8 for structured packing
C1 , C2 , C3 = Stichlmair constants
dL = diameter for liquid particles, m
DG = vapor molecular diffusion coefficient, m2/s
DL = liquid molecular diffusion coefficient, m2/s
dP = characteristic diameter, m
∆pdry = specific dry pressure drop, Pa/m
∆ptot = specific pressure drop, Pa/m
∆ptot,flood = specific pressure drop at flooding conditions, Pa/m
g = gravity acceleration, m/s2
G = molar flowrate for the gas phase, kmol/s
G´ = mass flowrate of the gas phase, kg/s
HTU = height of the transfer unit, m
HETP = height equivalent to a theoretical plate, m
hdyn0 = dynamic hold up below the loading point
hdyn = dynamic hold up
KL = overall mass-transfer coefficient, m/s
KLa = overall volumetric mass-transfer coefficient, 1/s
kG = gas-phase mass-transfer coefficient, m/s
kL = liquid-phase mass-transfer coefficient, m/s
L = molar flowrate for the liquid, kmol/s
L´ = mass flowrate for the liquid, kg/s
m = equilibrium ratio, mole fraction/mole fraction
MW = molecular weight, kg/kmol
Nt = number of theoretical stages or plates
NTU = number of transfer units
uG = superficial gas velocity, m/s
uGe = effective gas velocity, m/s
uL = superficial liquid velocity, m/s
uLe = effective liquid velocity, m/s
QG = volumetric flow rate for the gas phase, m3/s
QL = volumetric flow rate for the liquid phase, m3/s
R = resistance for mass transfer, s/m or 1/s
Re = Reynolds number
X = coefficient for calculation of the flooding pressure drop
x = concentration of VOC in the liquid phase, mole fraction
xin = inlet concentration, mole fraction, or other consistent unit
xout = outlet concentration, mole fraction, or other consistent unit
Vc = volume of the column, m3
Z = height of the column,m
Greek symbols
γ = contact angle between the liquid and solid, deg
є = packing void fraction
ρG = gas density, kg/m3
ρL = liquid density, kg/m3
σ = surface tension, N/m
μG = vapor viscosity, kg/(m s)
μL = liquid viscosity, kg/(m s)
λ = stripping factor = mG/L
ψ = friction factor
θ = angle (with horizontal) of channels in a structured packing