LIMITING LOADS OF DIFFERENT COUNTERCURRENT EXTRACTION COLUMNS.

The validity of a load diagram originally set up for spray columns is established for other counter-current extraction columns. This is the case because, in nearly all types of columns, the disperse phase is transported through the continuous phase by volume forces (buoyancy and gravity) acting on the drops. Only the mechanism of drop formation varies for different columns. It is shown that the load diagram can also be used for columns with supply of pulsation energy (e. g. pulsed sieve plate, pulsed packed, and Karr columns) or of rotation energy (e. g. RDC). A calculation of maximum stable drop size also reveals the load limit for the different columns under consideration.