Rotating Packed Beds (RPBs) have promising potential for process intensification (PI) in the chemical industry. At the academic level, they are considered for various applications such as extraction, absorption and distillation processes. However, the design of RPBs still poses some challenges that inhibit their wider use in large-scale applications, e.g., the requirement for rules on dimensions and packing, optimal operating conditions, and knowledge of operating limits. In order to experimentally determine the limitations and optimum operating conditions regarding the overall separation performance, all influences, intentional and unintentional, must be considered and investigated individually. Therefore, in this work, the influence of the sealing on the overall separation performance of the system was determined. Based on this, a measurement methodology was developed that determines radial temperature profiles. Thus, in distillation processes, the radial profile of the molar composition and ultimately the local separation performance can be concluded. In the scope of the development the influence of operating conditions and hysteresis effects was determined as well as the influence of constructional obstacles that potentially alter flow paths of both fluids within the unit. The developed experimental setup was used to investigate the local performance within RPBs, distinguishing between casing and packing as a single unit. Three different packing geometries were tested, varying the packing height and radial length. In addition, a second chemical system in the reference setup was used to determine the transferability of the results. Finally, the experimental results were compared with a mass transport model for RPBs applying a mass transfer correlation available in the literature. In the scope of this thesis a new model structure is proposed, shortcomings of existing models are discussed, and suggestions for upcoming experimental investigations and their implementation into models outlined.
Alexander Ressemann (Thu,) studied this question.