4. Conclusion

To achieve counter-current flow of the two phases, there are flow limitations to be respected. Clogging occurs when one of the flow rates is too high: it is then impossible to ensure the circulation of both phases in the exchanger.

The models presented can be used to effectively size a number of industrial devices. The HUT and NUT decomposition method makes it easy to calculate devices using HUT values determined either by extrapolation from existing devices, by simulation on a pilot plant, or by collecting data from the bibliography. Knowing the extent of axial mixing enables NUT values to be corrected. A relatively simple method is proposed, based on an approximate solution of the kinetic equations of the piston-dispersion model. The shape of the volume exchanger V ≥ Z A can be approximated as follows:

If the Z-height is low and the cross-section...