CFD analysis of two‐phase turbulent flow in internal airlift reactors

The hydrodynamic performance of three internal airlift reactor configurations was studied by the Eulerian–Eulerian k–ε model for a two‐phase turbulent flow. Comparative evaluation of different drag and lift force coefficient models in terms of liquid velocity in the riser and downcomer and gas holdup in the riser was highlighted. Drag correlations as a function of Eötvös number performed better results in comparison to the drag expressions related to Reynolds number. However, the drag correlation as a function of both Reynolds and Eötvös numbers fitted well with experimental results for the riser gas holdup and downcomer liquid velocity in configurations I and II. Positive lift coefficients increase the liquid velocity and decrease the riser gas holdup, while opposite results were obtained for negative values. By studying the effects of bubble size and their shape, the smaller bubbles provide a lower liquid velocity and a gas holdup. The effects of bubble‐induced turbulence and other non‐drag closure models such as turbulent dispersion and added mass forces were analysed. The gas velocity and gas holdup distributions, liquid velocity in the riser and downcomer, vectors of velocity magnitude and streamlines for liquid phase, the dynamics of gas holdup distribution and turbulent viscosity at different superficial gas velocities for different reactor configurations were computed. The effects of various geometrical parameters such as the draft tube clearance and the ratio of the riser to the downcomer cross‐sectional area on liquid velocities in the riser and the downcomer, the gas velocity and the gas holdup were explored. © 2011 Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering     

3‐D Simulations of an Internal Airlift Loop Reactor using a Steady Two‐Fluid Model

Three‐dimensional (3‐D) simulations of an internal airlift loop reactor in a cylindrical reference frame are presented, which are based on a two‐fluid model with a revised k‐? turbulence model for two‐phase bubbly flow. A steady state formulation is used with the purpose of time saving for cases with superficial gas velocity values as high as 0.12 m/s. Special 3‐D treatment of the boundary conditions at the axis is undertaken to allow asymmetric gas‐liquid flow. The simulation results are compared to the experimental data on average gas holdup, average liquid velocity in the riser and the downcomer, and good agreement is observed. The turbulent dispersion in the present two‐fluid model has a strong effect on the gas holdup distribution and wall‐peaking behavior is predicted. The CFD code developed has the potential to be applied as a tool for scaling up loop reactors.     

Effect of a gas–liquid separator on the hydrodynamics and circulation flow regimes in internal‐loop airlift reactors

The role of the gas–liquid separator on hydrodynamic characteristics in an internal‐loop airlift reactor (ALR) was investigated. Both gas holdup and liquid velocity were measured in a 30 dm³ airlift reactor with two different head configurations: with and without an enlarged separator. A magnetic tracer method using a neutrally buoyant magnetic particle as flowfollower was used to measure the liquid velocity in all sections of the internal‐loop airlift reactor. Average liquid circulation velocities in the main parts of the ALR were compared for both reactor configurations. At low air flow rates the separator had no influence on gas holdup, circulation velocity and intensity of turbulence in the downcomer and separator. At higher superficial air velocities, however, the separator design had a decisive effect on the hydrodynamic parameters in the downcomer and the separator. On the other hand, the gas holdup in the riser was only slightly influenced by the separator configuration in the whole range of air flow. Circulation flow regimes, characterising the behaviour of bubbles in the downcomer, were identified and the effect of the separator on these regimes was assessed. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

高长径比三相内环流反应器中相含率的分布研究

在长径比为22的三相内环流反应器中,常温常压下,以空气-水-石英砂为物系,根据无因次准数建立了气含率、固含率的预测模型,考察了在不同粒径下上升区气含率、下降区气含率和上升区固含率、下降区固含率随表观气速的变化规律和不同固体体积分数下轴向固含率的分布情况。结果表明：不同粒径下上升区和下降区气含率均随表观气速的增大而增大;当粒径（ds）≤0．3mm时,上升区固含率随表观气速的增加呈平缓趋势,下降区固含率随表观气速的增加而增加,当0．3mm〈d。≤1．2mm时,上升区固含率随表观气速的增加而呈先下降后增加的趋势,下降区固含率随表观气速的增加而下降;不同固体体积分数下的固体颗粒的固含率随着轴向高度的增大而变化平缓,能够均匀的分布在反应器中;气含率和固含率的计算值和实验值吻合较好,其平均相对误差分别为6．32％、4．56％。     

高长径比三相内环流反应器中细颗粒相含率和循环液速的分布研究

在高径比为22的三相内环流反应器中,在常温常压下以空气-水-石英砂为物系,研究了在不同粒径下上升区固含率、下降区固含率和上升区循环液速随表观气速的变化规律和不同粒径下轴向固含率的分布情况,以及在固体体积分数不同的条件下,平均气含率和上升区气含率随表观气速的变化情况。结果表明:当粒径(ds)≤0.3 mm时,上升区固含率随表观气速的增加呈平缓变化趋势,下降区固含率随表观气速的增加而增加;当0.3 mm相似文献   

SPLIT-CHANNEL RECTANGULAR AIRLIFT REACTORS:ENHANCEMENT OF PERFORMANCE BY GEOMETRIC MODIFICATIONS

Two geometric configurations of gas-liquid separators were used in split-channel airlift reactors (0.1 m3 liquid volume; riser-to-downcomer cross-sectional area = 1.45; aspect ratio = 3.6) to test the effect of geometry on hydrodynamic performance and oxygen transfer behaviour. One of the configurations consisted of the basic internal-loop airlift head region without added features; the other had a 45° -inclined prism attached to the upper edge of the splitting baffle. For otherwise fixed conditions, the design of gas-liquid separators affected the induced liquid circulation velocity, the depth of penetration of the bubbles in the downcomer, the gas holdup in the downcomer and the mixing time. The overall volumetric gas-liquid oxygen transfer coefficient was not affected. The gas holdup in the riser was only marginally affected by the design of the separator; however, the relationship between the riser and the downcomer holdups was sensitive to separator configuration. Incorporation of the prism in the basic airlift configuration enhanced gas-liquid separation so much so that up to 30% reduction in the downcomer gas holdup could be obtained relative to the unmodified geometry. The impact of the separator designs on hydrodynamic behaviour could be explained as emanating from a combination of the gas-liquid separating ability of the design and its hydraulic resistance.     

高长径比环流反应器中气、固含率的轴向分布研究

在高长径比(H/D=22.2)内环流反应器中,常温常压下,以空气-水-石英砂为物系,研究了表观气速和固体装载量对平均气含率、下降区气含率、上升区固含率、下降区固含率的影响,以及上升区气含率、固含率随轴向高度的分布规律.结果表明:平均气含率、下降区气含率随着表观气速的增加而增加,随ω(固体)增大而下降,ω(固体)≤2.6...     

三相多室气升式环流反应器气含率的研究

在1个4流道的三相多室气升式环流反应器中,以空气-水-K树脂为体系,采用压差法测量气含率,考察了上升室气体表观速率、固体装载量对上升室与下降室气含率的影响.结果表明:上升室的气含率随着该室气体表观速率增加而增加,而随着另一上升室气体表观速率增加而略有降低;下降室的气含率随着该室气体表观速率增加呈现3种变化趋势,而随着另...     

Behavior of gas bubbles in a concentric cylindrical airlift column

Using a light transmission optical probe, the effect of superficial gas velocity on bubble properties(bubble size, bubble rising velocity, bubble frequency and local gas holdup) at axial and radial positions was determined in the riser and the downcomer of a concentric cylindrical airlift reactor. The vertical bubble length, the bubble rising velocity and the bubble frequency at axis in the riser increased with increasing superficial gas velocity and the bed height. The radial distribution of the local gas holdup, vertical bubble length and bubble frequency in the riser and the downcomer were found to be non-uniform. The profiles of the local gas holdup, vertical bubble length and bubble rising velocity in the riser were shown as parabolic shapes. The local gas holdup, the vertical bubble length and the bubble frequency in the downcomer changed with superficial gas velocity and the distance from the top of the draft tube.     

强制液体外循环气升式内环流反应器的流体力学特性

在有机玻璃制成的主体反应器(φ0.286 m×3.0 m)内,采用空气-水的气液两相体系考察了不同表观气速下带有中心下料管和环管式气体分布器的环流反应器内局部气含率和内环气泡上升速度的流体力学特性。结果表明：气含率均随表观气速的增大而增大;从外环流入内环的气泡数量比较少;在相同条件下外环的气含率远远低于内环的气含率;新型气体分布器的采用和液体外循环的引入可以增大床层气含率并使其分布趋于均匀,从而增大了内环中气液两相的接触面积和湍动强度,使传递过程得到强化。在此基础上采用商业软件ANSYS CFX10.0对该反应器进行了数值模拟研究,模拟结果与实验数据基本吻合,说明了基于实验验证的Euler-Euler法可以用于该反应器开发和放大研究。     

Study of Local Gas Holdup and Specific Interfacial Area in a Split-Column Airlift Bioreactor Using Sphosticated 4-Point Optical Probe for Culturing Microlgae/Cyanobacteria

Local gas holdup (?) and interfacial area (a) at different axial locations of the riser and downcomer of a split-column airlift bioreactor were investigated using a sophisticated four-point optical probe. Such a type of a reactor has been found to outperform both bubble-column and draft-tube airlift bioreactors for culturing microalgae. The effect of superficial gas velocity (0.3–2.8 cm/s) on both gas holdup and interfacial area was studied using air–water system. It was found that both gas holdup and interfacial area significantly decrease from the top to the bottom of the downcomer for all superficial gas velocities, while their variation from the bottom to the top for the riser was found to be much less than that of the downcomer at the same superficial gas velocities. It was found that the interfacial area of the riser tends to increase by 35% from the bottom to the upper middle point of the column (6.15 Z/D from the bottom), then declines by 10% at the top location (7.7 Z/D from the bottom). Empirical correlations were obtained relating the gas holdup and specific interfacial area to superficial gas velocity of the riser and the downcomer of the bioreactor. It was found that the riser has to be represented as upper and lower halves to be best correlated, while the only upper half of the downcomer was successfully correlated. Having obtained variable interfacial area (a) at different locations of both the riser and the downcomer of the bioreactor, the local K_La consequently changes as a function of the location of the bioreactor and hence needs to be investigated locally as opposed to the current studies that have only measured and correlated the overall K_La.     

带波纹隔板的平板式光生物反应器流动特性

在传统平板式光生物反应器中加入波纹形隔板,以其导流作用强化液体循环和气液传质,建立了新型带波纹隔板的平板式光生物反应器. 利用计算流体动力学(CFD)模拟及实验考察了该反应器的流动与传质特性及其影响因素. 结果表明,CFD模拟结果与实验测量值吻合良好,液体在上升区和下降区之间形成了良好的循环,随通气比增加,液相速度、平均气含率和溶氧体积传质系数均近似线性增加. 单位体积能量输入与平均液相体积传质系数之间有良好的线性关系. 综合各相关参数得到优化结构为：下降区/上升区截面积为1.62,隔板顶端到液面的距离为260 mm,隔板底端到反应器底部的距离为20 mm.     

Hydrodynamics and mass transfer behavior in multiple draft tube airlift contactors

The draft tube configuration significantly affected the performance of an airlift contactor. The multiple draft tube configuration was demonstrated to give a better gas-liquid mass transfer when compared with a conventional one-draft-tube system. The airlift with a larger number of draft tubes allowed a higher level of bubble entrainment, which rendered a high downcomer gas holdup. This resulted in a higher overall gas holdup in the contactor. Liquid velocity was also enhanced by increasing the number of draft tubes. The ratio between downcomer and riser cross sectional areas, A _d /A _r , had a great effect on the system performance, where a larger A _d /A _r led to a lower downcomer liquid velocity and smaller quantity of gas bubbles being dragged into the downcomer. This resulted in low gas holdup, and consequently, low gas-liquid interfacial mass transfer area, which led to a reduction in the overall volumetric mass transfer coefficient. The presence of salinity in the system drastically reduced the bubble size and subsequently led to an enhancement of gas entrainment within the system. As a result, higher gas holdups and gas-liquid interfacial area were observed, and hence, a higher rate of gas-liquid mass transfer was obtained.     

Hydrodynamic Modelling of Internal Loop Airlift Reactor Applying Drift‐Flux Model in Bubbly Flow Regime

A new model for the liquid circulation rates in airlift reactor (ALR) is presented. The model is based on the energy balance for the flow loop (riser, turn riser‐downcomer, downcomer, and turn downcomer‐riser) coupled with a drift flux theory of two‐phase flow gas‐liquid system, considering a bubbly flow regime. The predicted values of the liquid circulation rates by the developed model are compared with experimental results performed in a 22 dm³ internal loop airlift reactor and with the results obtained in the literatures. The proposed model predicted the experimental results very well. Slip velocity relationship based on the drift flux model was proposed; including the gas holdup, bubble size and the liquid physical properties. The predicted slip velocity was similar to that obtained from the literature. The study revealed that appropriate arrangements of internal bioreactor parts can positively influence the liquid circulation velocity at the same energy consumption. The proposed models are useful in the design; scale up and characterization of the internal loop airlift reactors, and provides a direct method of predicting hydrodynamic behaviour in gas‐liquid airlift reactors.     

底部间隙对多室环流反应器流动特性的影响

在空气-水-石英砂三相多室气升式环流反应器(MALR)中,调节底部转角连接处间隙高度分别为18,28,38mm,在表观气速1.2～4.2cm/s范围内,实验研究了底部阻力系数、相含率、循环液速随反应器底部间隙的变化规律。结果表明,随着底部间隙的增大,底部转角处的局部阻力系数减小,循环液速增大,流体夹带进入下降室的气泡和固体颗粒均增多,下降室的气含率和固含率均增大。     

CFD simulation of the hydrodynamics in an internal air-lift reactor with two different configurations

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was used to investigate the hydrodynamic parameters of two internal airlift bioreactors with different configurations. Both had a riser diameter of 0.1 m. The model was used to predict the effect of the reactor geometry on the reactor hydrodynamics. Water was utilized as the continuous phase and air in the form of bubbles was applied as the dispersed phase. A two-phase flow model provided by the bubbly flow application mode was employed in this project. In the liquid phase, the turbulence can be described using the k-? model. Simulated gas holdup and liquid circulation velocity results were compared with experimental data. The predictions of the simulation are in good agreement with the experimental data.     

Global modelling of a gas-liquid-solid airlift reactor

This paper presents a global model of three phase flow (gas-liquid-solid) in an internal airlift reactor. The airlift is composed of four zones: a riser (on the aerated side on the internal wall), a downcomer (on the opposite side) and two turning zones above and below the internal wall. Tap water is the liquid continuous phase and the dispersed phases are air bubbles and polyethylene particles. The global modelling of the airlift involves mass and momentum equations for the three phases. The model enables phase velocities and phase volume fractions to be estimated, which can be compared to experimental data. Closure relations for the gas and solid drift velocities are based on the model proposed by Zuber and Findlay. The drift flux coefficients are derived from CFD numerical simulations of the airlift. Gas bubble and solid particle averaged slip velocities are deduced from momentum balances, including drag coefficient correlations. The link between Zuber and Findlay model and the two-fluid model is established. In the experiment as well as in the model, the gas flow rate is fixed. However, the liquid and solid flow rates are unknown. Two closure relations are needed to predict these flow rates: the first closure relation expresses that the volume of solid injected into the airlift remains constant; the second closure relation expresses a global balance between the difference of column height in the riser and the downcomer and the total pressure drop in the airlift. The main parameters of a three phase airlift reactor, like gas and solid volume fractions, are well predicted by the global model. With increasing solid filling rate (40%), the model starts to depart from the experimental values as soon as coalescence of bubbles appears.     

MASS TRANSFER AND HYDRODYNAMICS IN AN AIRLIFT REACTOR WITH VISCOUS NON-NEWTONIAN FLUID

In an internal loop airlift reactor of 55L working volume,the gas-liquid volumetric oxygenmass transfer coefficient k_Lα,gas holdup ε_G and liquid circulation time t_c were measured with the sol-ution of carboxymethyl cellulose(CMC)to simulate the performance of a reactor with highly viscousbroth.Electric conductivity and oxygen probes were used to measure the local gas holdup,liquidcirculation time and oxygen mass transfer coefficient in the individual sections of the reactor(riser,downcomer and the gas-liquid separating section at the top of the reactor)and the total reactor,respectively.The values of k_Lα for the riser,downcomer and separation sections of the reactor were alsoestimated and compared with that for the total reactor.The results show that,both k_Lα and ε_G in-crease but t_c decreases with increasing gas velocity.Correlations and comparisons with works reportedin the literature are also presented.Data show that the methods developed for k_Lα measurements inthe individual section and     

Influence of configuration on the performance of external loop airlift contactors

Various types of external loop airlift contactors (ELALCs) were examined for their hydrodynamic and mass transfer behavior. The investigation covered a variety of design parameters including the length of connection tubes (L_c), height of riser and downcomer (L_h), and the airlift configurations while maintaining the ratio between downcomer and riser cross sectional area constant at 0.269. The results demonstrated that the behavior of the external loop airlift could be modified by adjusting the design and operating variables. In general, a faster liquid velocity led to a presence of lower gas holdup and gas–liquid mass transfer rate. Increasing L_c and L_h seemed to increase liquid velocity while decreasing the overall gas holdup and the overall volumetric mass transfer coefficient. Empirical correlations for the estimation of the system behavior were finally formulated.     

EFFECTS OF AERATED LIQUID LEVEL ABOVE DOWNCOMER ON HYDRODYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF AN EXTERNAL-LOOP AIRLIFT REACTOR

Effects of the aerated liquid level above the downcomer on riser superficial liquid velocity, gas flow rates, and gas holdups in individual sections were investigated in an external-loop airlift reactor. The aerated liquid level is an important operating parameter, and the valve connected to the extension tube could adjust it. As the aerated liquid level was increased up to 0.158 m, which was slightly larger than the diameter of the riser, both the liquid circulation velocity and the gas flow rate in the extension tube increased, whereas the riser gas holdup, the downcomer gas holdup, and the gas flow rate in other individual sections except the extension tube decreased. A combination of the gas-liquid separation ability and hydraulic resistance of the head region and the surface aeration could explain the impact of the aerated liquid level on the hydrodynamic characteristics. However, the effect was negligible when the aerated liquid level was higher than 0.158 m.