Local Bubble Dynamics and Macroscopic Flow Structure in Bubble Columns with Different Scales

Local bubble behaviours were investigated in three bubble columns with different diameters of 200, 400 and 800 mm. By means of a novel single‐tip optical fibre probe employing laser Doppler technique, the local gas holdup, bubble frequency, bubble size and velocity were measured simultaneously at different locations of the columns. Measurements were performed in air‐water system at superficial gas velocities up to 90 mm/s. The averaged profiles and instantaneous measurements were analyzed and compared for different columns. The presence of a coherent gross circulation structure spanning the entire column diameter in the larger column rather than a pair of symmetrical circulation cells observed in the smaller columns has been confirmed.     

Characteristics of flow fields in the gas–liquid mini-bubble columns with particle image velocimetry measurements

As a new type of gas–liquid microreactors, the gas–liquid mini-bubble column has potential applications. However, few studies on the flow fields in the mini-bubble column can be found at present. In this work, particle image velocimetry (PIV) was used to visually study the velocity fields, vorticity fields and bubble dynamics in the gas–liquid mini-bubble columns with column inner diameters of 1–3 mm and mini-bubble diameters ranged from 0.7 to 1.3 mm. It is found that with the increase of superficial liquid velocity, bubbles rose from almost straight line to Z-shaped or S-shaped trajectory, and the bubble trajectory changed from one-dimension to three-dimension; when the bubble velocity changed, the bubble size and gas holdup decreased; bubble terminal velocity was controlled by bubble buoyancy and flow resistance, and increased slightly with bubble coalescence. These findings may provide basic reference for the design and scale-up of such a mini-bubble column reactor.     

Effect of gas expansion on the velocity of individual Taylor bubbles rising in vertical columns with water: Experimental studies at atmospheric pressure and under vacuum

This study was designed to determine the effect of gas expansion on the velocity of Taylor bubbles rising individually in a vertical column of water. This experimental study was conducted at atmospheric pressure or under vacuum (33.3 and ) using three different acrylic columns with internal diameters of 0.022, 0.032, and 0.052 m, and more than 4.0 m high. A non-intrusive optical method was used to measure velocity and length of Taylor bubbles at five different locations along the columns. The operating conditions used correspond to inertial controlled regime.In experiments performed under vacuum, there is considerable gas expansion during the rise of Taylor bubbles, particularly when they approach the liquid free surface where the pressure drop (due to the hydrostatic pressure) is of the order of magnitude of the absolute pressure. The liquid ahead of the bubble is displaced upward by an amount proportional to the gas expansion resulting in increased bubble velocity. The calculated Reynolds number suggests a laminar regime in the liquid ahead of the bubble. However, the experimentally determined velocity coefficient C for each column was much smaller than 2, which would be expected for laminar flow. The value of C obtained ranges from 1.13±0.09, for the narrowest column, to 1.40±0.24, for the widest column. This suggests that a fully developed laminar flow in the liquid ahead of the bubble is never achieved due to continuous bubble expansion at a variable rate, regardless of column height.The velocity coefficient C can be used to calculate the contribution of liquid motion to bubble velocity. Subtracting this contribution from the measured bubble velocity defines a constant value which is nearly identical to the bubble rise velocity measured in the same column operated as a constant volume system (two ends closed) where gas expansion is absent.     

Bubble size distribution in a bubble column with vertical tube internals: Experiments and CFD-PBM simulations

Knowledge of bubble size distribution (BSD) is critical for controlling mass transfer and reaction in bubble column reactors. Installation of internals further complicates this issue. The effects of internals on BSD were systematically investigated through experiments and computational fluid dynamics-population balance model simulations. The experiments show a bimodal distribution of the volume-based BSD except at low superficial gas velocity of 0.01 m/s. Addition of 20% internals increases the small-bubbles fraction, making the first BSD peak more evident. Correspondingly, the simulation reveals a prominent decrease of turbulent dissipation rate and turbulent kinetic energy. Moreover, while the unresolved turbulent kinetic energy dominates in the empty columns, the resolved portion becomes the major component in the presence of internals. This suggests that internals may redistribute turbulent kinetic energy in each scale, which provides more insights into the complex flow characteristics in the presence of internals and process intensification.     

二维鼓泡床内气液流动特性实验与数值模拟

采用高速摄像法测量了0.20 m×0.02 m×2.00 m拟二维床内气泡尺寸分布和流型等变化规律,结果表明,随着表观气速的增大,鼓泡床内依次呈现均匀鼓泡区、过渡区和湍动区3种形式,以气泡个数概率表示的气泡尺寸分布呈对数正态分布。以计算流体力学软件ANSYS CFX 10.0为平台,采用k-ε湍流模型和GRACE曳力模型对气液鼓泡床内流体动力学行为展开了数值模拟,其结果与实验值比较吻合。研究表明,从多相流理论出发的计算流体力学模拟方法可以用来预报鼓泡床内流型过渡等流体动力学特性。     

基于气泡群相间作用力模型的加压鼓泡塔流体力学模拟

目前,多数文献报道了冷态加压湍动鼓泡塔内流动特征,并且通过实验数据回归相关经验关联式。然而,此类关联式适用范围有限,难以直接外推到工业鼓泡塔反应器条件。因此,在FLUENT平台上建立了基于气泡群相间作用力的、动态二维加压鼓泡塔计算流体力学模型。通过数值模拟考察了操作压力为0.5~2.0 MPa,表观气速为0.20~0.31 m·s^-1,内径0.3 m鼓泡塔内流场特性参数分布,并且与冷态实验数据进行比较。结果表明,采用修正后的气泡群曳力模型、径向力平衡模型以及壁面润滑力模型描述气泡群相间作用力,能够较为准确地反映平均气含率和气含率径向分布随操作压力和表观气速变化的规律。     

Investigation of hydrodynamics in bubble column with internals using radioactive particle tracking (RPT)

Even though many experimental investigations are reported on this subject of liquid velocity patterns in bubble columns, most of the reported work is restricted to measurements at the near wall regions, columns without internals, and in low dispersed phase hold‐ups. In the present work, a non‐invasive radioactive particle tracking technique was employed to quantify the hydrodynamic parameters in 120 mm diameter bubble column with, and without vertical rod internals, using air/water system as the working fluids. The superficial air velocities cover a wide range of flow regimes: from 14 to 265 mm/s. Experiments were performed for two internals configurations with percentage obstruction area varied from 0 (without internals) to 11.7%. We report that the liquid phase hydrodynamics depends strongly on superficial gas velocity and internals. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2017     

气液鼓泡塔内液体速度分布的测定

鼓泡塔作为一种常见的多相反应器,其中液体速度分布的研究一直是热点。本次实验选用用鼓泡塔高约5.5m,塔径0.5m。利用Pavlov管技术,在不同的操作条件下,我们对于塔不同截面处的液体速度分布进行了测定。实验表明,塔内液速分布呈半抛物线状。在无因次径向位置0.6-0.8左右处,液体速度方向发生改变。而影响转折点位置的主要因素是气相表观速度。     

PREDICTION OF GAS-PHASE HOLDUP IN A BUBBLE COLUMN

Hydrodynamic properties of bubble columns play a significant role in many chemical and biochemical processes. Recent theoretical and experimental work conducted by Krishna et al. (1991, 1994), and Wilkinson et al. (1992) have been examined in conjunction with a bubble column and data for the air-water system operating at ambient conditions. The bubble column is 0.108 m in internal diameter, has a 1.70 m tall test section, and is equipped with a perforated plate distributor having 91 holes of 0.8 mm diameter. The data are taken for five values of the slumped water column height in range from 0.79 to 1.15 m, and for superficial air velocities up to about 0.4 m/s.

The data accord to the qualitative aspects of Krishna et al. model but lead to different values of the bubble swarm rise velocity, and superficial transition air velocity characterizing the transition from homogeneous bubbly flow regime to heterogeneous churn-turbulent flow regime. The quantitative reproduction by the model expressions of these recent works of the experimental data is poor. This may be partly attributed to the geometry of the column, diameter and distributor design.

The qualitative features of Krishna et al. model for the two regimes are confirmed by the present data. For quantitative predictions of gas-phase holdup, a new model is proposed in which the large bubble flow in the churn-turbulent regime is formulated following the drift-flux theory. The proposed theory and experimental data are in good agreement.     

HEAT-TRANSFER AND GAS-HOLDUP STUDIES IN A BUBBLE COLUMN: AIR-WATER-GLASS BEAD SYSTEM

Air-holdup and heat-transfer coefficient values are measured in a 0.305 m diameter bubble column equipped with a seven-tube bundle for the air-water and air-water-glass bead system. The dependence of these two properties on air velocity (up to 0.28 m/s), temperature (297-343 K), glass bead powder average size (50-143.3 μm), solids concentration in the slurry (up to 20 weight percent) and bubble column diameter (0.108 and 0.305 m), is experimentally investigated. The effect of internals, as simulated by a single probe and a seven-tube bundle, in the two bubble columns is also examined. The models and correlations commonly employed to estimate these properties are assessed on the basis of generated data.     

三相循环流化床中气泡大小及其分布的实验研究

用光纤探头技术对三相循环流化床中的气泡大小及其分布进行了系统研究 ,实验测定了操作条件对气泡大小及其分布的影响规律 .实验结果表明 ,三相循环流化床中气泡的大小分布可用对数正态分布表征 ,在实验条件下气泡平均直径在床中心区域较小且沿半径方向由中心向边壁逐渐增大 ,并随表观气速的增大而减小 ,随固含率的增大而增大 ,表观液速对气泡平均直径的影响较小     

湍动浆态床流体力学研究(Ⅱ)轴向浆料速度的径向分布

对高气速、大塔径条件下的湍动浆态床轴向速度进行了实验测定,提出了简化的一维流体力学模型。实验结果表明：固含率对浆料速度的径向分布影响不明显;采用中心速度和塔径作为参考量,则不同条件下的量纲1流速分布相似;高气速下中心速度随塔径的变化可近似用Nottenkamper关联式描述。提出了一维流体力学模型预测浆态床液速分布,模型计算结果与实验数据符合较好,模型较好地反映了浆态床反应器内液速分布随表观气速、固含率及塔径变化的规律。     

填料特性对鼓泡填料萃取塔性能影响

填料的结构与表面性能对鼓泡填料萃取塔性能有直接影响。利用空气 煤油 (苯甲酸 ) 水体系 ,测定了未装填料和分别装填板波填料、丝网填料、压延孔环填料的鼓泡萃取塔水力学性能和传质性能。实验表明 ,对未装填料和装有填料的萃取塔 ,气相搅拌都可以显著提高液液两相的接触与传质性能 ;液泛速度随表观气速的增大而下降 ;流道设计合理的规整填料传质性能明显高于散装填料 ;表面光滑的填料分散相滞存率低 ,因而液泛速度较高 ;填料的作用有利于降低轴向返混 ,明显提高萃取塔传质性能。     

A structured catalytic bubble column reactor: hydrodynamics and mixing studies

This paper reports the results of a comprehensive experimental study of the hydrodynamics and mixing in two bubble column reactors of 0.1 and 0.24 m in diameter with KATAPAK-S^® as packing material. Total gas hold up and axial dispersion coefficients were measured in the structured bubble columns and the values were compared with experimental results obtained in the same work with empty bubble columns. The results reveal that the gas hold up in structured bubble columns is practically the same as in empty bubble columns when compared at the same superficial gas velocity based on open area available for gas–liquid dispersion. The presence of the structured elements in the bubble column reactor reduces the liquid phase backmixing by one order of magnitude.     

Flow regimes and mass transfer in counter-current bubble columns

Counter current bubble columns have the feature that specific gas-liquid interfacial area and gas holdup are larger than those for standard and cocurrent bubble columns. In this study, three different flow regimes, churn-turbulent flow, bubble flow and bubble down-flow, have been observed in a counter-current bubble column and correlations of gas holdup and volumetric liquid-phase mass transfer coefficient have been proposed as functions of operating variables such as the superficial velocities of gas and liquid, the gas-liquid slip velocity and the liquid properties.     

反应器类型对流动影响的数值模拟

在油-氢气体系中使用欧拉-欧拉双流体模型考察了温度703.15 K和压力11 MPa下气升式环流反应器和鼓泡床反应器对气液两相流动的影响. 结果表明,环流反应器中气含率和轴向液速沿导流筒径向存在突增现象,环流反应器中气含率在径向0~0.5和0.75~1时明显大于鼓泡床反应器,在径向0.5~0.75处前者的平均气含率比后者高约6%;环流反应器中上升管内环流液速明显大于鼓泡床反应器,且在下降区有所增强,环流反应器平均轴向液速比鼓泡床反应器高约21%;反应器尺寸较小时环流反应器和鼓泡床反应器的流动特性相差不大,反应器体积放大过程中前者的流动特性优于后者的趋势逐渐明显.     

鼓泡塔细胞反应器流体力学与传质特性

以超大规模细胞培养为目的,构建了与细胞培养体系十分接近的冷模实验体系,系统地研究了微载体(Cytodex I)、细胞保护剂(Pluronic F68)和消泡剂(Antifoam C)对鼓泡塔反应器中气、固、液三相流流体力学和氧传质特性的影响。在0.04～0.17cm/s 表观气速范围内采用 50 μm 孔径的烧结金属滤芯曝气时,在含有 0.5 和 1.0 g/L 的 Pluronic F68 的磷酸盐缓冲溶液冷模体系中,气含率与表观气速成线性增加关系,而气泡直径受表观气速影响较小;相同气速下的冷模体系与空气-水体系相比,气含率显著提高,气泡直径明显减小。在所研究的表观气速范围内微载体均可全悬浮,对气含率有一定增强,但微载体浓度为14%～20% 时对气泡大小几乎无影响。消泡剂用量在 1.60×10^-4时,可以有效抑制泡沫的形成。添加剂对液膜传质系数 k_L有较大负面作用,抵消了小气泡带来的传质面积增加,总的体积传质系数k_La 变化不大。Euler-Euler 多相流计算流体力学模型与拟稳态实验数据吻合较好,可用于指导反应器放...     

Experimental Study on Bubble Rising and Descending Velocity Distribution in a Slurry Bubble Column Reactor

To determine bubble rising and descending velocity simultaneously, a BVW‐2 four‐channel conductivity probe bubble parameters apparatus and its analysis are used in gas‐liquid and gas‐liquid‐solid bubble columns. The column is 100 mm in internal diameter and 1500 mm in height. The solid particles used are glass beads with an average diameter of 17.82 μm, representing typical particle size for catalytic slurry reactors. The effects of superficial gas velocity (1.0 cm/s ≤ U_g ≤ 6.4 cm/s), solid holdup (0 % ≤ ?_s ≤ 30 %), and radial location (r/R = 0, 0.4, and 0.7) on bubble velocity distributions are determined. It is found that increasing U_g can increase the velocity of bubbles but do not exert much influence on bubble velocity distribution. Solid holdup mainly affects the distribution of bubble velocity while the radial direction affects bubble velocity distribution only slightly. The ratio of descending bubbles to rising bubbles increases from the bubble column center to the wall. It can be proved experimentally that large bubbles do not always rise faster than small bubbles at higher U_g (for example 6.4 cm/s).     

多级鼓泡塔内液体速度分布的实验研究

液体循环流动是多级鼓泡塔重要流体力学特征之一,文中在内径为282 mm,高2000 mm的鼓泡塔内,采用不同类型的筛板将普通鼓泡塔分割成双级气液鼓泡塔.采用Pavlov管测液速的方法考察了不同筛板、不同表观气速下该鼓泡塔中上下二侧的液体速度分布.根据实验结果得出了液体速度在塔中心处最大,且与表观气速有关,随着表观气速的...     

Local hydrodynamic parameters of bubble column reactors operating with non‐Newtonian liquids: Experiments and models development

The effects of liquid phase rheology on the local hydrodynamics of bubble column reactors operating with non‐Newtonian liquids are investigated. Local bubble properties, including bubble frequency, bubble chord length, and bubble rise velocity, are measured by placing two in‐house made optical fiber probes at various locations within a bubble column reactor operating with different non‐Newtonian liquids. It was found that the presence of elasticity can noticeably increase the bubble frequency but decreases the bubble chord length and its rise velocity. The radial profiles of bubble frequency, bubble chord length, and bubble rise velocity are shown to be relatively flat at low superficial gas velocity while they become parabolic at high superficial gas velocity. Moreover, the bubble size and gas holdup are correlated with respect to dimensionless groups by considering the ratio between dynamic moduli of viscoelastic liquids. The novel proposed correlations are capable of predicting the experimental data of bubble size and gas holdup within a mean absolute percentage error of 9.3% and 10%, respectively. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 62: 1382–1396, 2016