Improvement of Mass Transfer Characteristics for the Gas-Liquid System in a Vortex Counterflow Apparatus

This article aims to increase the intensity of mass transfer between gas and liquid in counterflow gas–liquid flow, one of the key problems in designing mass transfer equipment. For this purpose, analytical and experimental studies were carried out to evaluate the main features of operating processes in a vortex counterflow apparatus. In particular, the presented research substantiates the possibility of achieving several theoretical stages of concentration change in a single atomizing stage of the vortex counterflow mass transfer apparatus. The corresponding experimental stand was developed to carry out experimental studies. Afterward, the efficiency of the vortex counterflow mass transfer apparatus was evaluated. The model was based on material balance and flow rate equations, allowing for the determination of mass transfer and intensity ratio. After comparing the analytical expressions with the experimental results, the regression dependence for evaluating the main parameter of the proposed mathematical model was obtained. An increase in steam consumption led to increased steam velocities, affecting the droplets. This fact proved an increase in the intensity of mass transfer processes. The studies substantiated the achievement of several theoretical stages of concentration change and increased the efficiency of a vortex counterflow mass transfer apparatus. From a practical viewpoint, the experimental studies confirmed that when the height and radius ratio is less than 0.6–0.7, it is possible to create a plane vortex countercurrent motion of gas and liquid flows with a significant increase in peripheral gas velocities along the radius of the vortex chamber.