Experimental and thermal analysis of washing the packed ice bed in wash columns

• Published in: AIChE journal Vol. 55; no. 11; pp. 2835 - 2847
• Main Authors: Qin, Frank G.F, Yang, Min Lin, Yang, Xiao Xi, Chen, Xiao Dong, Abeynaike, Arjan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.11.2009; Wiley; American Institute of Chemical Engineers
• Subjects: Applied sciences; channeling; Chemical engineering; Columns (process); Criteria; Entrainment; Exact sciences and technology; freeze concentration; Ice; Liquids; Materials science; Melting; Porosity; Stability; Temperature; Thermal analysis; viscous fingering; wash column; wash front and stability; British Isles, England, The Wash; Mixing; Melting; Stability; freeze concentration; Washing; Countercurrent flow; Operating conditions; channeling; wash column; wash front and stability; Viscous fingering; Thermal analysis; Porosity
• ISSN: 0001-1541; 1547-5905
• DOI: 10.1002/aic.11912

In the process of freeze concentration (FC), the main problems in operating the counter-current wash column used for separating ice from ice slurries are channeling and viscous fingering. These phenomena lead to the mixing of pure water and mother liquid, as well as entrainment of mother liquid within the removed ice. Experimental and thermal analysis of the wash front interface in this research relates ice melting and wash front breakthrough with the operating conditions (such as the wash water temperature, ice bed temperature and porosity). Criteria for wash front stability are proposed. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009