Non-absorbable gas effects on heat and mass transfer in falling film absorption

Film absorption involves simultaneous heat and mass transfer in the gas-liquid system. While the non-absorbable gas does not participate directly in the absorption process, its presence does affect the overall heat and mass transfer. An experimental study was performed to investigate the heat and mass transfer characteristics of LiBr-H2O solution flowing over 6-row horizontal tubes with the water vapor absorption in the presence of non-absorbable gases. The volumetric concentration of non-absorbable gas, air, was varied from 0.17 to 10.0%. The combined effects of the solution flow rate and its concentration on the heat and mass transfer coefficients were also examined. The presence of 2% volumetric concentration of air resulted in a 25% reduction in the Nusselt number and 41% reduction in the Sherwood number. Optimum film Reynolds number was found to exist at which the heat and mass transfer reach their maximum value independent of air contents. Reduced Nusselt and Sherwood numbers, defined as the ratio of Nusselt and Sherwood numbers at given non-absorbable gas content to that with pure water vapor, were correlated to account for the reduction in the heat and mass transfer due to non-absorbable gases in a falling film absorption process.