The efficiency of short airlift pumps operating at low submergence ratios

An airlift pump operating at submergence ratios between 0.2 and 0.6 and using water as the pumping liquid, has been investigated. Circular pipes of constant short length of 1 m and inner diameters of 3 and 5 cm were used as riser tubes. The water flow rate measurements for various air flow rates allowed the study of the pumping efficiency as a function of the air flow rate, submergence ratio and certain geometrical parameters (riser tube diameter and injector design). The efficiency curves start from a zero efficiency at a minimum air flow rate, then increase rapidly with the air flow rate up to an efficiency maximum. For higher air flow rates, the efficiency decreases exponentially. Diagrams showing the influence of the riser tube diameter and injector design, are presented. Additionally, based on the experimental data, two equations are presented, which allow the prediction of the maximum efficiency and the corresponding water and air flow rates inside the experimental range.     

Visual study of an airlift pump operating at low submergence ratios

The operation of an airlift pump, working under low submergence ratios (between 0.17 and 0.31), has been visually studied. The two-phase flow structures occurring in the riser channel and around the injector section were recorded by a high speed video system. A quasi-periodic burst-like behaviour characterised the flow pattern in the riser tube, which appeared to dominate the operation of the airlift pump under the conditions of low submergence ratios. An interesting aspect of the airlift pump operation, under these conditions, is that the two phases show a large interface area; this is due to the high dispersion degree of the two-phase mixture in the riser duct. Data and pictures from video recordings regarding the sequence, time and length scales of the occurring flow patterns are reported.     

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.     

升膜蒸发管内流型可视化及传热性能

为了探究热流密度、真空度和流量对升膜蒸发器传热性能的影响,以及对升膜加热管内流体流型进行观测和分析,本文建立了升膜蒸发系统传热实验平台,对升膜蒸发器的传热特性和流体流型进行实验研究.实验所用升膜管管长2200mm,升膜管采用镀透明导电膜石英管,工作介质为水;升膜管蒸发侧采用电加热方式;研究了热流密度(6.71kW/m²≤ q≤ 26.79kW/m²)、流量(20L/h≤ M≤ 100L/h)和真空度(0≤ P≤ 15kPa)对升膜加热管流体流型和传热特性的影响.结果表明:通过电加热的方式可以实现石英管内溶液的升膜蒸发,并能观测到泡状流、块状流、弹状流、柱塞流、环状流和雾状流;热流密度低于6.71kW/m²时无法形成升膜蒸发,随着蒸发侧热流密度的增大,升膜管内环状流长度增大,管内传热系数增大;随着流量的增大,升膜管内液体湍流强度增大,管内传热系数增大;真空度对流体流型影响较大.     

CFD simulation and experimental measurement of gas holdup and liquid interstitial velocity in internal loop airlift reactor

This paper documents experiments and CFD simulations of the hydrodynamics of our two-phase (water, air) laboratory internal loop airlift reactor (40 l). The experiments and simulations were aimed at obtaining global flow characteristics (gas holdup and liquid interstitial velocity in the riser and in the downcomer) in our particular airlift configurations. The experiments and simulations were done for three different riser tubes with variable length and diameter. Gas (air) superficial velocities in riser were in range from 1 to 7.5 cm/s. Up to three circulation regimes were experimentally observed (no bubbles in downcomer, bubbles in downcomer but not circulating, and finally the circulating regime). The primary goal was to test our CFD simulation setup using only standard closures for interphase forces and turbulence, and assuming constant bubble size is able to capture global characteristics of the flow for our experimental airlift configurations for the three circulation regimes, and if the simulation setup could be later used for obtaining the global characteristic for modified geometries of our original airlift design or for different fluids. The CFD simulations were done in commercial code Fluent 6.3 using algebraic slip mixture multiphase model. The secondary goal was to test the sensitivity of the simulation results to different closures for the drag coefficient and the resulting bubble slip velocity and also for the turbulence. In addition to the simulations done in Fluent, simulation results using different code (CFX 12.1) and different model (full Euler–Euler) are also presented in this paper. The experimental measurements of liquid interstitial velocity in the riser and in the downcomer were done by evaluating the response to the injection of a sulphuric acid solution measured with pH probes. The gas holdup in the riser and downcomer was measured with the U-tube manometer. The results showed that the simulation setup works quite well when there are no bubbles present in the downcomer, and that the sensitivity to the drag closure is rather low in this case. The agreement was getting worse with the increase of gas holdup in the downcomer. The use of different multiphase model in the different code (CFX) gave almost the same results as the Fluent simulations.     

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.     

带有文丘里反向流动转向器的紧凑型气动式脉冲射流泵(英文)

A compact pneumatic pulse-jet pump with a Venturi-like reverse flow diverter,which consists of a nozzle and diffuser,is designed for lifting and transporting a hazardous fluid through a narrow mounting hole.The pumping performance for a liquid mixture or a liquid-solid mixture is examined in terms of the effects of liquid viscosity,particle mass concentration,lifting height,and compression pressure.Results reveal that the pumping performance of the compact pneumatic pulse-jet pump is controlled by jet inertia and the flow resistance of the riser tube positioned after the diffuser.The capacity of the compact pneumatic pulse-jet pump increases with compression pressure and decreases with liquid viscosity.However,even for a liquid mixture with a high viscosity of 7.38 mPa·s,a pumping capacity of 170.7 L·h-1 was observed.For a liquid mixture,two dimensionless indices of performance were found to be the ratio of Euler numbers Euout/EuDV and the suction factor q.As the liquid-solid mixture was lifted to elevation of 6.74 m by the compact pump,the particle size distributions of the liquid-solid mixture in the tank and from the riser tube outlet were determined by a particle size analyzer and found to coincide well.     

旋流气升式环流反应器的气含率轴向分布

为强化环隙气升式环流反应器(AALR)的流动、混合与传质性能, 提出了旋流气升式环流反应器(HALR)。在8.8L的HALR中, 以空气-水和空气-水-K树脂为实验物系, 在表观气速为0.47～2.31cm/s的范围内, 研究了表观气速、导流筒底边与反应器底面的间隙(简称底部间隙)、上升区轴向高度及固体装载量等因素对气含率的影响规律, 并与 AALR 进行了对比。结果表明:对于空气-水组成的两相物系来说, 在表观气速较小时, 旋流片对上升气泡有聚并作用;在表观气速较大时, 旋流片对气泡主要起破碎作用;气含率随着轴向高度的增加而增加, 增加的幅度随表观气速的增加而增加。对于三相物系, 表观气速较大时, 气含率随着固体装载量的增大而增大, 比两相物系气含率高;表观气速较小时, 两相物系的气含率略高于三相物系的。根据实验结果, 提出并拟合出了上升区局部气含率与轴向高度的预测模型:ε_g=(3.00×10^-4h+0.0276)U_g^0.615, 模型的预测值与实验值吻合较好, 平均相对误差为12%。     

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.     

Experiment and calculation of filtration processes in an external-loop airlift ceramic membrane bioreactor

Air sparging is recognized as an effective way to increase permeate flux in membrane filtration processes. The application of air sparging with an external-loop airlift ceramic membrane bioreactor was studied at different gas flow rates, biomass concentrations and suction pressures. A 180% increase in permeate flux was obtained while filtering a 2 g/L activated sludge wastewater suspension with the airlift cross-flow operation for U_g=0.21 m/s. The mechanism of flux enhancement in the case of slug flow in tubular membrane was discussed. The region near the gas slug was divided into three different zones: falling film zone, wake zone and remaining liquid slug zone. Air sparging significantly lowered cake thickness and consequently cake resistances for the wake region and the falling film region. A novel model combining hydrodynamic of gas-liquid two-phase flow and cake resistance was developed to simulate the process. The model was validated with experimental data with an error of 8.3%.     

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     

Investigation of the hydrodynamics of slug flow in airlift pumps

A slug flow model considering the dispersed bubbles entrained from the tail of Taylor bubble (TB) and re-coalesced with the successive TB was proposed. Experiment was conducted to test the validity of this model by using a high-speed camcorder and particle image velocimetry (PIV). It was found that the model was valid for predicting the characteristics of slug flow in airlift pump within average error of 14%. Moreover, large pipe diameter was found to accelerate the rise velocity of TB and decreases void fraction in liquid slug by a small margin.     

High liquid holdup airlift tower loop reactor: I. Riser hydrodynamic characteristics

The hydrodynamics of high liquid holdup airlift reactors have not been widely studied. In this work we study the riser of a reactor of this type, focussing on the influence of the gas flow rate and the submergence ratio on various hydrodynamic parameters: liquid circulation velocity, gas holdup, and gas residence time in the liquid. A notable difference in reactor behavior is observed with a submergence ratio equal to unity and with a ratio lower than unity. Correlations for the parameters studied in different conditions, as several submergence ratios, are proposed, these are extrapolations of other equations proposed in the literature for airlift reactors. The reactor studied in this work can be thought of as an element of a great pool formed by multiple elements of similar flux type. The studied parameters are shown to be very important for subsequent hydrodynamic and mass transfer modeling of the reactor. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

无霜空气源热泵系统冬季运行性能实验

为了解决传统空气源热泵系统冬季运行室外换热器结霜温度,提出了一种溶液除湿型无霜空气源热泵空调系统。该热泵系统在冬季可以无霜高效运行的同时夏季性能也有所提高。通过搭建该系统实验平台,研究了室外空气干球温度、湿度、供热水温度、供热水流量、溶液流量、溶液质量分数、室外空气流量等对冬季工况系统供热性能的影响,还研究了溶液流量、溶液温度、室外空气流量等对冬季工况系统再生性能的影响,得出了室外空气湿度、溶液质量分数对系统的供热性能影响较小,随着室外空气干球温度、供热水流量、溶液流量、室外空气流量等参数的升高和供热水温度的减小,系统供热性能逐渐增大最高可达3.11,而随着溶液流量、空气流量等参数的升高和溶液温度的减小,系统再生性能逐渐增大最高可达4.03,系统供热综合COP在实验工况相较逆循环除霜系统有所提升,实验验证了该系统适用于低温高湿地区。     

气升式环流反应器的理论研究进展

概述了气升式环流反应器的流体力学模型,对工程实用性较强的气液两流体模型和气泡导致的湍动模型进行了分类,并对常见相间作用力模型和多相流求解技术进行了总结和评价. 指出将Favre平均的两流体模型和采用Sato模型考虑气泡导致湍动的k-e模型相结合是现阶段气升式环流反应器设计和放大的有力工具. 在分析了气液两相流理论现状的基础上,指出了其存在的问题和进一步的研究方向.     

层流泡状流的近似解析解

当前描述泡状流的双流体模型无法求得解析解,只能通过数值计算的方法进行模拟.本文则针对最基本的泡状流（垂直圆管内稳态层流泡状流）,通过对其双流体模型进行积分,得到比较直观的揭示层流泡状流流场成因的近似解析表达式.并用数值积分的方法迭代求解该表达式,所得到的数值结果与实验数据吻合很好.虽然该表达式是积分形式的,仅能算是近似的解析解,但它揭示了影响泡状流流场的因素,在理论上向前迈进了一步.     

Local measurements for the study of external loop airlift hydrodynamics

Hot-film anemometry and an optical biprobe are used to measure local flow characteristics in the riser of an external loop airlift reactor. Important flow asymmetries are observed above the sparger and developing flow persists through a large part of the riser. As gas flow rate increases, radial gas hold-up profiles change from relatively flat to parabolic while the shape of radial liquid velocity profiles remains constant and Sauter bubble diameter increases. At large gas superficial velocities, slip velocity is found to deviate considerably from the frequently used value of 0.25 m/s. Local measurements allow a better understanding of two-phase flow in airlift reactors and can be used for CFD-modeling development and validation.     

Hydrodynamics in airlift loop section of petroleum coke combustor

Based on the combustion characteristics of petroleum coke, a coupled gas-solid fluidized bed combustor is proposed in this work. The overall circulating system of the fluidized bed mainly consists of a dense-phase airlift loop section and a dilute-phase riser section. In different operating conditions, the particle flow behaviors in the airlift loop section were investigated systematically by using optical fiber probe. The experimental results show that the airlift loop section can be divided into four regions, namely, the draft tube, the annulus, the bottom region and the particle diffluence region, in which the average cross-sectional solids fraction and the particle velocity are different. The overall solids fraction difference between the draft tube and the annulus provides a driving force for particle circulation flow in the airlift loop section, and the driving force increases with increasing the superficial gas velocity in the draft tube. The ratio of the particle mass flux in the annulus to that in the riser ranges from 8 to 16. The particle circular velocity in the annulus also increases with increasing the superficial gas velocity in the draft tube. Moreover, a model about the particle circular velocity is established on the basis of energy equilibrium principle.     

深海S形立管系统严重段塞流流动特性

对深海油气集输主要形式之一的S形立管出现的严重段塞流进行了分类和流动特性的分析,得到关键参数对该系统的影响情况,主要形成如下结论:①S形立管典型严重段塞流同L形立管一样具有严格的周期性,其形成过程可分为5个阶段,即下肢液塞形成、上肢液塞形成、液塞溢流、液塞喷发和液塞回流;②随着输量增大,严重段塞流的周期和液塞长度均减小,周期规整性有所减弱;③油气组成在较小范围内变动,对典型严重段塞流的影响不大;④增大管径或立管高度增大了严重段塞流的危险程度,大管径的深海集输管线一旦发生严重段塞流,将产生严重的后果;⑤随着分离器压力的增大,段塞周期增大,发生严重段塞流的后果越严重。     

水平管泡状流压力信号的功率谱特性比较

为比较Welch功率谱、AR功率谱和EV功率谱对气液二相水平管泡状流压力信号的功率谱分析效果,对泡状流压力波动信号进行了分析.将提取的泡状流压力波动信号经小波去噪后,分别进行Welch功率谱、AR功率谱和EV功率谱估计,并分析比较所得3种功率谱密度图.分析表明:Welch、AR和EV功率谱均能正确反映泡状流压力波动信号...