Thermo-osmosis of sorbable gases in porous media : Part II. Cascades

Abstract The theoretical basis of the two methods of Part I of effecting mixture separation by thermo-osmosis has been extended to cascades. For each method two cases are considered: one in which the steady states are established with no net throughput of material into and out of the cascade; and the second in which there is a steady input into the middle of each cascade, and equal total withdrawal of the partially separated mixture from both ends. The treatments are given for binary mixtures. Factors influencing the extent of separation have been formulated. Separation by cascades can be remarkably complete since the overall separation factor is the product of those for each unit.