Model uncertainty of interfacial area and mass transfer coefficients in absorption column packings

Abstract

Uncertainty in model input parameters propagates through the model to make model output imprecision. Here, mathematical models used to calculate interfacial area and mass transfer coefficient for both random and structured packing in a packed bed absorption column was studied to investigate the propagation of model input parameters of viscosity, density and surface tension through the models. Monte Carlo simulation was used to examine the uncertainty propagation, and expectation E(Y) and standard deviation s for the model output values were determined. This study reveals ±5% model output uncertainty for mass transfer coefficient and ±3.7% uncertainty for interfacial area for the Onda, Bravo and Fair models used in random packings. Further, the analysis predicts ±1.3% of uncertainty for interfacial area and ±0.8% of uncertainty for mass transfer coefficient for the Rocha’s correlations used in structured packings.