HALF-RANGE ANALYSIS OF A COUNTERCURRENT SEPARATOR

Journal article

Chemical separations are usually accomplished in counter-current reactors, because in these reactors the chemical equilibrium continually shifts toward increasing the purity of the product stream as it flows through the reactor. However, as a result of the counter-current design, these devices are often governed by forward/backward (two-way diffusion) equations. In this article we analyze the mathematical model of a single-interface counter-current separator introduced by Fitt, Ockendon, and Shillor for relatively long reactors. For such reactors, the mathematical model, which is a forward/backward diffusion system, can be solved by eigenfunction expansions. We construct these expansions using complex variable methods developed for kinetic theory. From this analysis we obtain explicit formulas for the power of the reactor, both in terms of the average purity of the output stream and in terms of the equivalent number of theoretical plates. © 1991.

Authors: Hagan, P; Ockendon, J

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: JOURNAL OF MATHEMATICAL ANALYSIS AND APPLICATIONS
• Volume: 160
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 358-378
• Publication date: 1991-09-15
• DOI: 10.1016/0022-247X(91)90311-M
• EISSN: 1096-0813
• ISSN: 0022-247X