ABSTRACT
The use of high-gravity, or centrifugal, fields for chemical processing has generated much interest in recent years. Fluid acceleration creates an environment in which mass transfer rates are two to three orders of magnitude higher than rates achieved in more conventional equipment, such as packed towers and stirred tanks. Heat transfer is also enhanced. Short contact time and fast transfer rates allow a reduction in equipment size and in-process inventory. Many chemical processes could benefit from these unique properties by reducing the cost of construction, reducing working capital, improving safety, producing less waste, etc. In addition, the use of high-gravity fields may provide solutions to processing problems more effectively and more economically than conventional equipment.
