Experimental studies on heat and mass transfer characteristics for R134a–DMF bubble absorber

Experimental investigations have been carried out to study heat and mass transfer characteristics of Tetrafluoro ethane (R134a) in Dimethyl formamide (DMF) in a glass absorber. Effects of operational parameters viz., gas flow rate, solution flow rate, solution initial concentration, solution pressure, solution temperature and cooling water flow rate on absorber performance are analyzed. Absorption rate and heat transfer rate increase as the gas flow rate, solution flow rate, cooling water flow rate and solution pressure increase whereas they decrease as the solution initial concentration and solution temperature increase. Heat and mass transfer rates determined from the experiments are compared with numerical model and it is found that agreement is good. A correlation for mass transfer coefficient is presented from the experimental studies within ±20% error band.

► Experiments have been carried out on a glass bubble absorber and heat and mass transfer characteristics are studied.
► A new working fluid pair Tetrafluoro ethane (R134a)–Dimethyl formamide (DMF) has been used.
► Effect of gas, solution and cooling water flow rates, solution pressure, temperature and initial concentration is studied.
► A correlation for mass transfer coefficient is presented from the experimental studies.
► Efficient removal of heat of mixing, large interfacial area between vapor and weak solution improve absorber performance.