Interfaces and Mass Transfer at Elevated Pressure

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Philip Jaeger
• Subject Area: Technical Thermodynamics ; Chemical and Thermal Process Engineering
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 461538157

In the context of the energy transition, processes related to storage and utilization of CO2 and H2 as well as fluid mixtures containing natural gas are gaining relevance. These processes take place at elevated pressure for which determining the respective phase equilibria as well as system properties like the interfacial tension and mass transfer is challenging. Therefore, it is advisable to apply physically based theoretical models that allow systematic calculation of material properties in a wide range of parameters making use of a relatively small number of experimental data. The starting point is a theoretical model, recently established for mass transfer in liquid-liquid systems that will be further developed for calculating the mass transfer across vapor-liquid-liquid boundaries. As model systems, “water – n-dodecane – n-butanol – CH4” as well as “water – n-dodecane – n-butanol – CO2” are selected, representing systems that are of high scientific interest since from literature it is known that two of the transferring compounds, n-butanol and CO2, are enriched at the interface. For the first time, two quaternary systems will be investigated systematically in this project, i.e. all relevant thermodynamic properties will be determined, also of all binary and ternary subsystems. Further, new experimental procedures will be employed to systematically investigate the mass transfer that include the implementation of results from the thermodynamic modelling that on its turn will deliver a thermodynamically consistent approach based on PC-SAFT. PC-SAFT has already be applied successfully in literature for describing high pressure phase equilibria. In combination with the density gradient theory, interfacial properties can be calculated. From an expression of the Helmholtz energy of an inhomogeneous system, the chemical potential can be derived that on its turn is the driving force of mass transfer. The thermodynamic as well as mass transfer model are parametrized with help of the binary subsystems and validated with help of the ternary and quaternary systems. Properties that are not experimentally accessible like the local non-equilibrium density can be determined and used for the experimental evaluation of transient drop profiles in terms of the dynamic interfacial tension. In case of a successful project, a thermodynamically consistent model is provided for determining the mass transfer in multiphase systems at elevated pressures. Further, the data base on fluid mixture properties is extended and new experimental methods are provided.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Austria
• Partner Organisation: Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung (FWF)
• Cooperation Partner: Professor Dr.-Ing. Tim Zeiner