Deviations From Plug-Flow and 1-D Thermal Behavior for Breakthrough Tests with Zeolite CaA, Water Vapor, and Carbon Dioxide

Breakthrough tests are typically used to empirically derive mass transfer coefficients for sorbent/sorbate systems and heat transfer coefficients for packed beds. We have observed that, for certain sorbent/sorbate system simulated with the axially dispersed plug flow equation and a 1-D thermal model, it is not possible to simultaneously match the observed breakthrough curve and the observed temperature profiles with a single mass transfer coefficient. The mass transfer coefficient required to align the experimental and simulated temperature profile peaks results in a mismatch of the experimental and simulated breakthrough curve. Comparisons between experimental and simulated results for breakthrough tests with zeolite CaA, water vapor, and carbon dioxide are presented and discussed.