Pressure drop analysis for potential heat transfer applications using metallic foam packing in rotating packed bed

Rotating packed beds (RPBs) enable more compact, efficient mass transfer versus traditional packed columns by utilizing centrifugal acceleration to improve fluid flow and contact. However, RPB applications in heat transfer remain limited despite the analogies between heat and mass transfer processes. Cooling towers in particular are vital in the thermal management of many engineering applications, and operate on a similar principle as traditional distillation columns in chemical industries, providing process intensification opportunities. This study explores the feasibility of reducing the size of cooling towers using RPB technology. An experimental investigation was conducted to analyze air pressure drop characteristics in an RPB. The study systematically examined the effects of gas flow rate (0–67.78 m³/h), rotor rpm (0–2000 rpm), and liquid flow rate (0–10 lpm) on the pressure drop behavior of RPB. Copper metal foam with 95% porosity was used as the packing material, and its performance was compared against wire mesh packing. The copper foam exhibited significantly lower pressure drop under wet bed conditions, attributed to its higher porosity. A semiempirical model accurately predicted the total pressure drop across the RPB with a precision of ± 8% compared to experimental results. The study offers valuable insights for the advancement of RPB technology in heat transfer applications.