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.     

Flow Regime Identification in a Slurry Bubble Column from Gas Holdup and Pressure Fluctuations Analysis

Analysis of gas holdups and pressure fluctuations are conducted in a slurry bubble column to study changes in flow regimes and comparisons are made with solid‐free bubble column. The pressure fluctuations are measured by fast response pressure transducers mounted on the column wall in the distributor and bulk regions. Air, tap water and 35 micron glass beads are used as the gas, liquid and solid phases respectively. Statistical analysis of pressure fluctuation data combined with gas holdup analysis provided information about flow regime transition and interesting insights into bubble size distributions and changes in flow structure.     

Characterizing regime transitions in a bubble column with internals

Effects of internals on flow regimes are systematically investigated in a lab-scale bubble column (BC) through six approaches: total gas holdup, drift-flux, standard deviation, fractal analysis, chaos analysis and wavelet analysis. With increasing internals-covered cross-sectional area (CSA), these methods give various value of the first transitional superficial gas velocity, as different scales of structures are detected to characterize regime transition. While internals are found to have marginal effect on total gas holdup, significant change in gas-holdup structure is discovered, showing a decrease in large-bubbles holdup and an increase in small-bubbles holdup in transitional and churn-turbulent regimes. We propose a novel approach based on wavelet analysis to demarcate the boundaries among micro-, meso-, and macro-scales. The energy fraction of these representative scales identifies two transitional velocities, suggesting that internals advance the advent of first transition and delay the second one. The operating window of transitional regime is, therefore, remarkably extended.     

Effect of gas distributor on hydrodynamics in shallow bubble column reactors

The effects of gas distributor on hydrodynamics in an air–water shallow bubble column reactor are investigated. Three types of distributors, namely, single nozzle, perforated plate and porous plate are being studied. The overall gas holdup, bubble size distributions and bubble rise velocity distributions are studied over a range of superficial gas velocities. The results show that single nozzle is not suitable for shallow bed operation. While perforated plate and porous plate distributors have comparable behaviour in the absence of solids, the addition of solids particles causes the two distributors to behaviour differently. The presence of solids promotes bubble coalescence for perforated plate distributor while the same inhibits bubble coalescence for porous plate distributor.     

Bubble characteristics in shallow bubble column reactors

The bubble characteristics have been investigated in an air–water bubble column with shallow bed heights. The effect of bed height, location and the presence of solids on the bubble size, bubble rise velocity and overall and sectional gas holdup are studied over a range of superficial gas velocities. Optimal shallow bed operation relies on the combined entrance and exit effects at the distributor and the liquid bed surface. The gas holdup is found to decrease with an increase in H/D ratio but the effect is diminishing at high H/D ratios. A H/D ratio of 2–4 is found to be suitable for shallow bed operation. The presence of solids causes the formation of larger bubbles at the distributor and the effect is diminishing as the gas velocity is increased.     

气—液鼓泡塔中流动域和气含率的分布

利用压力传感器测定了气、液两相鼓泡塔内不同轴、径向位置上压强的脉动信号,分析了压强的脉动特征,计算了各种操作条件下塔内不同轴向位置截面上的平均气含率,发现在不同操作条件下,塔内可能出现不同的流动域分布,即全塔均匀鼓泡域、全塔过渡域、全塔湍动鼓泡域以及均匀鼓泡域,过渡域和湍动鼓泡域中的相邻2种或3种流域同时出现在塔内不同高度上。提出了不同轴向位置流域转变的判据。并发现,同一截面的不同径向位置基本处于同一流域内。同时研究了鼓泡塔内气含率在轴向上的分布规律,给出了不同流动域内气含率的关系式。     

Phase Distribution in a High Pressure Slurry Bubble Column via a Single Source Computed Tomography

Due to their numerous advantages, Slurry Bubble Column Reactors (SBCR) are gaining wide importance in the petroleum, petrochemical, chemical, and biochemical industries. Most previous literature studies on the fluid dynamics and the phase holdup distribution in SBCR are limited to low superficial gas velocity, low solids loading, and the atmospheric pressure. Moreover, the presence of a solids phase poses difficulties in probe measurement techniques such as pitot tube and optical probe and see through measurement techniques such as particle image velocimetry (PIV), Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV). Single source γ‐ray Computed Tomography (CT) has been used to measure cross‐sectional phase holdup distribution in two‐phase systems. In the present study, a new methodology has been developed that combines a single source CT with overall gas holdup measurement, along with valid assumptions, to measure the cross‐sectional holdup distribution of the three phases in a slurry bubble column. The implementation of developed methodology has been demonstrated using air‐water‐glass beads (150 µm) at selected conditions of superficial gas velocity and operating pressure.     

浆态床反应器内固体轴向悬浮特征的实验研究

实验研究了浆态床内固体的轴向悬浮特征。为了实现气体均布和优化固体悬浮效果,在浆态床内设置辐射式锐孔气体分布器和内部构件。实验以空气-水-玻璃微珠系统为研究对象,考察了初始固体质量含率(固含率)为0～30%,表观气速1～25 cm/s,液体循环量0～230 L/h对固体浓度均布的影响。从固体轴向分布的均匀性分别比较辐射式锐孔气体分布器和1 mm多孔板气体分布器的性能以及有/无内部构件的性能。结果表明,高表观气速下,辐射式锐孔气体分布器明显优于1 mm多孔板,内部构件明显优于无内部构件。由实验结果得知,该反应器适用于操作气速大于等于10 cm/s,最佳循环量为80～150 L/h,临界悬浮气速为10～12 cm/s,催化剂装填量的增加对临界悬浮气速影响不大。     

Hydrodynamics and bubble behaviour in a three-phase two-stage internal loop airlift reactor

Local hydrodynamics of a gas–liquid–solid system,such as bubble circulation regime,gas holdup,liquid velocity and axial profile of solid concentration,are studied in a two-stage internal loop airlift reactor.Empirical correlations for gas holdup and liquid velocity are proposed to ease the reactor design and scale-up.Different bubble circulation regimes were displayed in the first(lower) and second(upper) stages.Increasing superficial gas velocity and solid loading can promote regime transition of the second stage,and the gas holdup of the second stage is higher than that of the lower stage.In addition,the effects of solid loading on bubble behaviour are experimentally investigated for each stage.It is found that bubble size in the downcomer decreases with the presence of solid particles,and bubble size distribution widens under higher superficial gas velocity and lower solid loading.     

气体分布方式对带列管内构件的鼓泡塔流动规律的影响

在带列管内构件的鼓泡塔内测量了4种不同布气方式下的气含率和液速径向分布,并与无列管内构件的空塔中的分布进行了比较。结果表明：中心布气条件下气含率与液速的径向分布比空塔更为陡峭;环隙及近壁布气时呈现出环隙高、两边低的马鞍形分布;均匀布气时径向分布较空塔更为平坦。空塔内气体分布器的影响是局部性的,充分发展段在塔内占主要部分;而在列管塔中气体分布器的影响是全局性的,气含率与液速的初始分布决定着其全塔分布。在带列管的大型鼓泡塔中难以观察到充分发展段的存在,因此,气体分布器的设计具有比空塔更为重要的意义     

分布器对鼓泡塔中气泡直径分布的影响

采用电导探针测定了冷态鼓泡塔中不同气速下的气泡直径及气含率的轴向分布,考察了分布板对鼓泡塔操作性能的影响.结果表明:随着开孔率的减小,从均匀鼓泡区到过渡区的转变提前;在均匀鼓泡区,开孔率对气泡直径影响较小;在过渡区,开孔率大的分布器形成的稳定气泡直径较小、气含率较大;分布板开孔直径越大,形成的初始气泡直径越大,但对轴向气泡直径分布的影响仅限于分布器区.包含分布器影响的气泡直径经验关联式为d/D=140.2Bo-0.5Ga-0.12Fr0.099(h/D)-0.15T-0.34(0.5 cm/s＜ug＜7 cm/s).     

Gas holdup above the bed surface and grid gas jet hydrodynamics for three phase fluidized beds

A three dimensional column was used to study the hydrodynamics of a three phase system: air, water and 3 mm glass beads. Various effects of the grid jets on bed hydrodynamics were investigated for both increasing and decreasing liquid superficial velocities. Three regimes were observed: spouted bed, spouted fluidized bed and three phase fluidized bed. The hydrodynamics of the two phase region above the bed was also studied. The gas holdup increased when the gas superficial velocity was increased but decreased when the liquid superficial velocity was increased. A correlation for the estimation of the gas holdup as a function of gas and liquid superficial velocities was established.     

Gas holdup in homogeneous and heterogeneous gas—liquid bubble column reactors

The velocity‐holdup relationship is the most important design parameter for gas—liquid bubble column reactors, providing the basis for the prediction of heat and mass transfer coefficients and information on hydrodynamic conditions. A summary of the literature on gas holdup in bubble columns is supplemented by new experimental results which extend the data range. A criterion for the gas velocity leading to the transition between homogeneous and heterogeneous regimes for perforated plate gas distributors has been developed. Correlations for gas holdup in both regimes are developed and verified against both new and existing data.     

Improved gas holdup in novel bubble column

This investigation reports the experimental and theoretical results carried out to evaluate the gas holdup for air–water system in a novel hybrid rotating and reciprocating perforated plate bubble column under countercurrent condition. The response of this hybrid column is found to be similar to that of reciprocating plate column (RPC) showing mixer‐settler, transition, and emulsion regions. The effect of agitation level, superficial gas velocity, superficial liquid velocity, perforation diameter, and plate spacing on gas holdup is studied and found to be significant. The gas holdup is found to be least in the range of agitation level of 1.3–1.5 cm/s. For all the superficial gas and liquid velocities considered in this present investigation, the critical agitation level at minimum gas holdup remains nearly same. The gas holdup in this hybrid column is 1.2–1.7 times higher in mixer‐settler region and 2.1–2.7 times higher in emulsion region than that of RPC. Correlations have been developed and found to concur with the experimental values. It can be used with 95% accuracy. © 2011 Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering     

三相多室气升式环流反应器中上升室气含率研究

在一个4流道的多室气升式环流反应器中,以空气-水-K树脂为体系,考察了上升室气体表观速率和固体装载量对上升室气含率的影响。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;上升室的气含率均随固体装载量增加而降低。在鼓泡流下,根据漂流通量模型,建立了上升室的气含率模型;上升室气含率的模型计算值和试验值的平均相对误差为6.429%。     

GAS HOLDUP IN UNIFORMLY AERATED BUBBLE COLUMN REACTORS

Conditions of the stable performance of gas distributing plates were studied and the effect of plate geometry on gas holdup of uniformly aerated gas-liquid beds was investigated. The ratio of plate holes opened for gas passage was determined as a function of gas hole velocity and critical values of gas hole velocity corresponding to the onset of stable performance of distributing plates were obtained.

Two regimes of bubbling were observed under conditions of stable uniform gas distribution; the regions of their existence being determined by the values of gas flow velocity and distributing plate parameters. Considerable increase of gas holdup was observed in the region of “foam” bubbling compared to the “turbulent” bubbling regime commonly encountered in bubble column reactors. The character of the bed and hence its gas holdup value were affected by the geometry of distributing plates in the “foam” bubbling region while no such effect was observed under “turbulent” bubbling conditions.     

气液外环流反应器中气泡行为的实验研究

详细考察了气液外环流反应器中上升管、下降管的气泡行为随轴向、径向的变化规律. 由于外环流反应器的结构特点,发现在上升管底部存在偏流,并对分布板区气泡行为随角向的变化规律进行了研究. 分析实验结果得出,气含率和气泡速度均随表观气速的升高而升高;在上升管内,气含率和气泡速度自中心向边壁逐渐降低,而沿轴向变化很小;在分布板区,由于受分布器及下降管的影响,使气含率和气泡速度在不同角向存在不同的径向分布. 在下降管中,气含率自中心向边壁逐渐降低,而气泡速度则基本不变;且下降管中的气体循环率随表观气速的升高而升高.     

Studies of Gas Holdup in Bubble Column Reactors

Gas holdup in bubble columns has been investigated over a wide range of operational and geometrical parameters. A criterion has been developed for the prediction of the transitional velocity from the homogeneous to heterogeneous flow regime. Correlations for gas holdup in both regimes are developed and verified against experimental data.     

湍动浆态床流体力学研究（Ⅰ）气含率及其分布规律

对高气速、高固含率、大塔径条件下的湍动浆态床平均气含率和气含率径向分布进行了实验测定,结合工业实验数据,归纳出可用于工业条件的气含率计算关联式,给出了简化的流体力学模型用于气含率分布的模拟。结果表明,浆态床气含率将随塔径增加而降低,固含率与塔径之间存在交互影响;同时,气含率的径向分布也随气速和塔径的增大而改变,存在明显的放大效应,简化模型能够较好地模拟实验结果。     

Time-dependent gas holdup variation in an air-water bubble column

Time-dependent gas holdup variation in a two-phase bubble column is reported with air and tap water as the working fluids. The results indicate that time-dependent gas holdup is closely related to the water, whose quality is unsteady and changes, not only during the two-phase flow, but also during idle periods. The significance and characteristics of the time-dependent gas holdup variation are influenced by the bubble column operation mode (cocurrent or semi-batch), the sparger orientation, the superficial gas velocity, and the superficial liquid velocity. It is proposed that a volatile substance (VS), which exists in the water in very small concentrations and inhibits bubble coalescence, evaporates during column operation and results in a time-dependent gas holdup. The influence of bubble column operation mode, sparger orientation, superficial gas velocity, and superficial liquid velocity on the time-dependent gas holdup variation are explained based on their effects on bubble size, bubble contacting frequency and mixing intensity. This work reveals that regular tap water may cause significant reproducibility problems in experimental studies of air-water two-phase flows.