ENHANCEMENT OF MASS TRANSFER IN BUBBLE COLUMNS USING VIBRATING PLATES

A bubble column fitted with series of perforated vibrating plates for intensification and enhancement of mass transfer was thoroughly investigated using air-water and air-polluted water systems. The effects of the significant parameters like frequency, amplitude, and air flow rates on volumetric mass transfer coefficient were reported. Experimental investigations indicated that bubble columns with perforatedvibrating plates offer unique characteristics in comparison with conventional bubble columns. For airwater system, oxygen transfer was enhanced up to 20-30 times using 5 cm amplitude and actual frequency of 135 rpm in comparison with conventional bubble columns. For air-polluted water system, the increase was up to 10 times. This high level of enhancement is ascribed to the intensive mixing caused by the vibrating perforated plates as well as to the better distribution of bubble size produced during vibration. Its application in waste water treatment system is very promising due to the expected high reduction in the treatment time.