Experimental and Modelling Studies of Mass Transfer in Centrifugal Contactors

Experimental trials have been undertaken to determine interfacial area for mass transfer in 5 cm and 25 cm diameter annular centrifugal contactors. All trials used 30% TBP in Exxsol D80 diluent, with extraction of HNO3 being studied at varying flowrates and volumetric flow ratios. Droplet size was determined using a laser reflectance probe.Results from the 5 cm rig showed two different regions of operation and the value of the dimensionless constant (K) in the Kolmogoroff expression was estimated to be 0.28 for O/A ratios below 2.5 and 0.30 above 2.5. From the 25 cm rig trials K was estimated to be 0.26.