Hydrodynamic studies with foaming and non-newtonian solutions in bubble columns

Experiments were conducted in 0.05 m ID and 0.23 m ID by 3 m tall bubble columns to study the effect of surfactants and viscosity of liquid medium on gas hold-up and Sauter mean bubble diameter. The addition of n-butanol (0.5 and 1 wt.%) to water leads to the formation of foam and consequently produces higher gas hold-ups. The foam could be eliminated completely with the addition of a sufficient quantity (0.5 wt.%) of carboxymethyl cellulose to the aqueous alcohol solution. In the absence of foam, gas hold-ups were similar to those obtained with pure liquids. Sauter mean bubble diameters, obtained using the dynamic gas disengagement technique, increase with viscosity of liquid medium.     

气液鼓泡床内的液体流速分布

引言 鼓泡床是一种重要的气液或气液固多相反应器.液体循环流动是鼓泡床的一个重要流体力学特征,从20世纪50年代人们就开始对此进行了比较系统的实验研究[1-6].这个特征对鼓泡床的流体返混行为、气含率、气液界面积以及传热传质系数都有很大影响,特别是液体返混行为可以由液体循环特性直接决定.如何准确地描述和预测鼓泡床中的液体流速沿径向的分布,关系到鼓泡床反应器的设计、放大和优化.因此,许多年来它一直是人们致力探讨的重要课题之一[7-8].     

Prediction of hydrodynamic behaviour in bubble columns

A simple theoretical model is used to describe hydrodynamic behaviour in bubble columns. The model is based on an energy balance which takes into account the energy dissipation in the liquid motion and the energy dissipation at the gas–liquid interface. Gas hold-up, liquid velocity at the column axis and radial profile of liquid velocity are predicted in a wide range of operating conditions (J_G up to 1·452 m s⁻¹) and column sizes (D = 0·1–1 m and H = 1·22–9·5 m) with good accuracy. Predictions of liquid velocity are also compared with one of the most widely accepted models.     

Intensified operation of slurry bubble columns using structured gas injection

We investigate uniform gas injection using a needle sparger as a structuring methodology to reduce backmixing in slurry bubble columns. Using optical probes, we determined the gas fraction and the bubble behaviour in 2D and 3D slurry bubble columns with a uniform gas injection. Experimental results for air–water–glass beads (d_s = 108 µm, U_sg = 0–0.10 m/s) indicate that a strong reduction in the vortical structures has been achieved and the homogeneous flow regime can be extended beyond 30% gas fraction. Increasing the solids concentration decreases the gas fraction and widens the bubble velocity distribution. Furthermore, we show by modelling that the reduced backmixing leads to a major improvement of the conversion in case of Fischer–Tropsch synthesis.     

Frictional loss in multiplate bubble columns

Gas holdup and pressure loss were measured for various gas-liquid systems in a batch, multistage bubble column. Experimental results show that the use of screen plates (α = 0.64) considerably increases the gas holdup but introduces a significant pressure loss for the two-phase mixture. The pressure loss was found to be independent of physical properties of the mixture, and predictable either from the modified separated flow model (Chen et al., 1986) or from the kinetic energy loss based on the liquid circulation velocity.     

Multicompartment hydrodynamic model for slurry bubble columns

A core-annulus multicompartment two-dimensional two-bubble class model accounting for slurry recirculation and coupled with catalyst transport was developed as a part and parcel of the analysis of the behavior of slurry bubble column reactors at high gas throughputs corresponding to the churn turbulent flow regime. The model analyzed the contributions of bubble-induced turbulence closures, bubble coalescence and breakup phenomena, and catalyst axial distribution as the resultant of sedimentation, advection via liquid-solid slip, per-compartment axial dispersion and core-annulus lateral exchange of catalyst by bubble-induced turbulence. The model was also used to analyze the effects of catalyst loading, gas density and superficial velocity, and column diameter and vessel aspect ratio on the hydrodynamics of slurry bubble column reactors, namely, the per-compartment phase holdups and interstitial velocities, pressure gradient, bubble coalescence and break-up rates, and loci of velocity inversion for the gas and slurry profiles.     

二维鼓泡床内气泡尺寸分布的实验与CFD模拟

在有机玻璃制成的二维鼓泡床(0.20m×0.02m×2.00m)内,采用摄像法对空气－自来水的气液两相体系的气泡尺寸分布进行了考察。以商业计算流体力学软件ANSYS CFX 10.0为平台,在双流体模型的基础上,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进行了多相流CFD数值模拟。结果表明 MUSIG(Multiple Size Group)模型实现了对多气泡体系内气泡尺寸分布特性的考察,气泡尺寸分布的模拟结果与实验结果吻合得较好,从而说明了考虑了气泡聚并破碎的MUSIG模型能很好地反映出鼓泡床内气泡尺寸分布特性。     

基于EMMS方法的鼓泡塔反应器CFD及群平衡模拟

能量最小多尺度（energy-minimization multi-scale,EMMS）方法已经被应用于气液体系中群平衡（population balance model,PBM）模型的改进。EMMS模型可计算气泡破碎聚并过程的能量,进而获得聚并速率的修正因子。应用这一模型对高气速鼓泡塔进行了模拟计算,并进一步对比了均一尺径模型、CFD-PBM模型以及CFD-PBM-EMMS模型的模拟结果与实验数据。结果表明,在高表观气速条件下,基于EMMS方法的群平衡模型可以更加准确地预测鼓泡塔中不同高度的气泡尺径分布和轴向液速,同时提高了对整体气含率和局部气含率的模拟准确性。在表观气速为0.16 m·s^-1和0.25 m·s^-1时,CFD-PBM-EMMS模型对气泡尺径分布的预测精度更高,同时整体气含率模拟的相对误差下降为5%和15%,局部气含率模拟平均相对误差下降为8%和17%。     

Characteristic mixing length in bubble columns

Liquid-phase mixing in bubble columns is discussed on the basis of the mixing length theory. A characteristic mixing length defined as a lumped hydrodynamic parameter is estimated. The results indicate that the characteristic mixing length assumed previously by one of the authors is reasonable.     

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.     

Coalescence efficiency of bubbles in bubble columns

Bubble size distribution was modelled by employing the population balance equation (PBE). All three bubble coalescence mechanisms (turbulence, buoyancy and laminar shear) and the main bubble breakup mechanism (breakup due to turbulent eddies) were considered in the model. Local bubble size distributions at the top and bottom of the column were obtained by solving this PBE. The results were compared with the experimental data for seven independent multiphase systems (water/air, isomax diesel/air, kerosene/air and four other liquid mixture/air) at two diverse gas velocities. The experimental adjustable constant in the coalescence efficiency function was determined by fitting the population balance to the experimental bubble size distributions. An empirical correlation was proposed for the coalescence efficiency by the dimensional analysis, which includes Reynolds and Weber numbers. © 2011 Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering     

单孔及微孔曝气低气速鼓泡床内气泡行为比较

引言鼓泡床反应器被广泛应用于吸收、液相氧化、好氧生化等气液反应过程,气体在液相中的分散情况对鼓泡床的反应和传质特性都有很大影响.为了提高气液传质效率,增加生产强度,工业反应器很多都是在高气速下操作(Ug>0·05m·s-1),很多研究都集中在高气速湍动鼓泡区[1~3].但对有机     

Local hydrodynamics modeling of a gas–liquid–solid three-phase bubble column

A three-dimensional (3D) transient model was developed to simulate the local hydrodynamics of a gas–liquid–solid three-phase bubble column using the computational fluid dynamic method, where the multiple size group model was adopted to determine the size distribution of the gas bubbles. Model simulation results, such as the local time-averaged gas holdups and axial liquid velocities, were validated by experimental measurements under varied operating conditions, e.g., superficial gas velocities and initial solid loadings at different locations in the three-phase bubble column. Furthermore, the local transient hydrodynamic characteristics, such as gas holdups, liquid velocities, and solid holdups, as well as gas bubble size distribution were predicted reasonably by the developed model for the dynamic behaviors of the three-phase bubble column. © 2007 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2007     

Modelling of phenol biodegradation by Candida tropicalis immobilised in alginate gel beads

Phenol‐degrading yeast Candida tropicalis were immobilised in alginate gel beads and photographed by scanning electron microscopy. Batch phenol biodegradation experiments were done in shaking flasks under varying conditions such as initial phenol concentrations and bead loadings. A mathematical model was proposed to simulate the batch phenol biodegradation process in the immobilised system, which took into account the internal and external mass transfer resistances of phenol and oxygen and the double‐substrate phenol–oxygen intrinsic kinetics. The validation of this model was done by the comparison between the model simulations and the experimental measurements of phenol concentration profiles in the main liquid phase. Moreover, the time and radius courses of phenol, oxygen, and cell concentration profiles within the alginate gel beads were reasonably predicted by the proposed model.     

Non-newtonian two-phase circulation in bubble columns

Gas-liquid and gas-slurry bubble columns are widely used in the mineral and engineering industries, particularly for aeration (oxidation), synthesis of oil and flotation of mineral fines. Even though gas may be introduced into a bubble column evenly through a distributor plate over the whole column floor, undesirable circulation patterns generally develop in the column. This paper extends a force balance approach (originally used for turbulent systems) to predict circulation in non-Newtonian gas-liquid mixtures and demonstrates how the rheological properties will affect a single circulation pattern in a column.     

Analysis of bubble behaviors in bubble columns using electrical resistance tomography

The distribution of gas holdup, the rise velocity of gas bubble swarm and the Sauter mean bubble size are estimated with a small diameter laboratory scale bubble column using electrical resistance tomography (ERT). The theory of gas disengagement based on ERT methods has been developed for estimations of bubble size and bubble rise velocity. The gas holdups of large bubble swarm and small bubble swarm, the distribution of both bubble size are derived through the analysis of gas disengagement based on the differences of the rise velocity of bubble swarm at the cross-section imaged by electrical resistance tomography. Experimental results are in very good agreement with correlations and conventional estimation obtained using pressure transmitter methods. The proposed methodology can be also used as an analysis tool for quantifying and optimizing the performance of other types of complex reaction systems.     

鼓泡塔中气泡尺寸分布和局部气含率研究

在内径为0.38 m的鼓泡塔中采用双电导探针法对不同通气速率下的气泡尺寸分布和局部气含率进行了实验研究,分析了气泡尺寸的概率密度分布。结果表明:气泡尺寸随轴向高度的增加而增大,随径向距离增加而减小;鼓泡塔中气液流动可分为过渡流域和充分发展流域,在过渡流域气含率随轴向高度增加而增大,在充分发展流域气含率趋于均值,径向局部气含率分布呈抛物线型下降。高气速下气泡尺寸概率密度分布比低气速下宽,且随轴向高度的增加分布变宽。     

Gas phase flow in bubble columns: A convective phenomenon

The axial dispersion model has been commonly used to describe gas phase flow in bubble columns. Scatter in dispersion coefficients reported to date may be a result of the misuse of the axial dispersion model when a convective model would be more appropriate. Using simple tests with radioactive tracer response curve moments, convective and dispersive behaviours are differentiated. A convective model is presented. The model fits both tracer response curves and mean gas velocity well in both the bubbly and churn turbulent flow regimes, and may be used as a technique to calculate bubble rise velocity distributions.