Design Considerations for a Humidifier 1

[Timmigrant]

I've already asked this question in the fluid mechanics forum for mechanical engineers, and haven't had a response as yet, so I'll resubmit the question here.

I am currently designing a verticle sparger style gas humidifier. Currently I have looked into designing the diameter of the vessle such that particles of a size larger than 150 microns will fall out of the gas flow. The 150 microns is typical of a mist like particle, which was why I chose that number. Currently I'm uncertain what length to use, and what design considerations to use. The only factor I could think of was the residence time of the gas bubbles in the water. However I was having troubles determining the diffusion rate of water into the gas particle. It seems as though this analysis could get far more complicated than I wish. Is there any "rule of thumb" type design parameters for this vessel.

Another question was the effect of packing material in this humdifier, and its advantages. The packing will create a torcherous path for the fluid. However if I use packing material made of plastic it will limit the upper temperature range I can use. So is packing material sufficiently beneficial, and is there packing material available in something other than plastic that is reasonably priced?

 

[25362]

Donald R. Woods in his Process Design and Engineering Practice- PTR Prentice Hall, leads you step by step in your estimations.