RogueRose
International Hazard
Posts: 1594
Registered: 16-6-2014
Member Is Offline
|
|
Packing a condenser tube with medium to increase surface area - practical or useful?
IDK how many of you know that some reflux columns are often packed with various things to increase surface area. Would there be any benefit of doing
the same with a condenser pipe to allow for more surface area for the gases to condense?
|
|
XeonTheMGPony
International Hazard
Posts: 1640
Registered: 5-1-2016
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
|
|
depends on what your doing, but simple answer is yes and no.
|
|
UC235
National Hazard
Posts: 565
Registered: 28-12-2014
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
|
|
Unless those surfaces are also actively cooled, no. You're blocking contact with the actual cooled surfaces. You're also raising surface area so some
of the product will be lost sticking to the material. You're also reducing the condenser volume so gas is pushed through faster.
If you're having trouble condensing, use a Graham or Friedrichs condenser. These offer designs that ensure good contact of the gases with the cooling
surfaces but have low retention of product. The Friedrichs is better for handling high flow rates and large volume of product but has more retention
than a Graham.
|
|