Mass transfer coefficient in the eductor liquid-liquid extraction column

In this research gasoil desalting was investigated from mass transfer point of view in an eductor liquid–liquid extraction column (eductor-LLE device). Mass transfer characteristics of the eductor-LLE device were evaluated and an empirical correlation was obtained by dimensional analysis of the dispersed phase Sherwood number. The Results showed that the overall mass transfer coefficient of the dispersed phase and extraction efficiency have been increased by increasing Sauter mean diameter (SMD) and decreasing the nozzle diameter from 2 to 1 mm, respectively. The effects of Reynolds number (Re), projection ratio (ratio of the distance between venturi throat and nozzle tip to venturi throat diameter, R_pr), venturi throat area to nozzle area ratio (R_th-n) and two phases flow rates ratio (R_Q) on the mass transfer coefficient (K) were determined. According to the results, K increase with increasing Re and R_Q and also with decreasing R_pr and R_th-n. Semi-empirical models of drop formation, rising and coalescence were compared with our proposed empirical model. It was revealed that the present model provided a relatively good fitting for the mass transfer model of drop coalescence. Moreover, experimental data were in better agreement with calculated data with AARE value of 0.085.