Analysis of deformation and internal flow patterns for rising single bubbles in different liquids

Gas–liquid multiphase flow is a significant phenomenon in chemical processes. The rising behaviors of single bubbles in the quiescent liquids have been investigated but the internal flow patterns and deformation rules of bubbles, which influence the mass transfer efficiency to a large extent, have received much less attention. In this paper, the volume of fluid method was used to calculate the bubble shapes, pressure, velocity distributions,and the flow patterns inside the bubbles. The rising behavior of the bubbles with four different initial diameters,i.e., 3 mm, 5 mm, 7 mm and 9 mm was investigated in four various liquids including water, 61.23% glycerol,86.73% glycerol and 100% glycerol. The results show that the liquid properties and bubble initial diameters have great impacts on bubble shapes. Moreover, flow patterns inside the bubbles with different initial diameters were analyzed and classified into three types under the condition of different bubble shapes. Three correlations for predicting the maximum internal circulation inside the bubbles in 86.73% glycerol were presented and the R-square values were all bigger than 0.98. Through analyzing the pressure and velocity distributions around the bubbles, four rules of bubble deformation were also obtained to explain and predict the shapes.     

Application Of A Single-Bubble Model In Estimation Of Ozone Transfer Efficiency In Water

A single-bubble model of mass transfer in gas-liquid systems enables the estimation of transfer efficiencies under different process conditions. In particular, it can be applied to simulate the effects of bubble size, value of the mass transfer coefficient, kinetics of reactions taking place in water and depth of the contact chamber. The results of such modelling in terms of transfer efficiency are presented for physical and chemical absorption of ozone in water at different hydrodynamic conditions (bubble size, water temperature, water depth in the contact chamber, and initial ozone concentration in the bubbles). The results of computations are compared with some reference data on ozone absorption in water in industrial-scale contact chambers.     

Gas phase hydrodynamics in a surface-aerated tank with a long-short blades agitator

This work aims to study the gas phase hydrodynamics in a stirred tank with a surface-aerated long-short blades agitator by the Eulerian–Eulerian approach coupled with population balance model. Predicted local gas holdup and bubble size distribution agree well with those measured by a conductivity probe technique. The predictions demonstrate that the pressure depression in the center is the main driving force for gas suction and the downward flow carries the bubbles down to redistribute in the whole tank. The gas phase has higher gas holdup with large bubble size in the upper part and lower gas holdup but with small bubble size in the lower part of the tank. The predicted liquid-phase mass transfer coefficients agree well with our previous experimental results and just depend on the power consumption per unit volume when the aspect ratio of the liquid height to the tank diameter varies from 1.1 to 2.0.     

Effect of bubble interaction on interphase mass transfer in gas fluidized beds

A non-interfering technique has been used to measure the concentration of ozone in pairs of bubbles injected into a bed of inactive 390 μm glass beads fluidized by ozone-free air. The transfer of the ozone tracer from the bubble phase to the dense phase is enhanced when compared to the transfer from isolated bubbles in the same particles and the same column. Bubble growth is also greater for the case where pairs of bubbles are introduced than when bubbles are present in isolation. Enhancement of interphase mass transfer for interacting bubbles in the present work and in previous studies incr with particle size and can be explained in terms of enhancement of the throughflow (or convective) component of transfer while the diffusive component unaltered. This mechanism leads to new equations for estimating interphase mass transfer in freely bubbling fluidized beds.     

Effect of satellite bubbles on dynamics of gas absorption from a CO2 bubble into a downward-flowing liquid

The dynamic process of gas absorption from a CO₂ bubble into a liquid is examined in the presence of satellite bubbles. The bubble under consideration is held stationary, except its jittering, by the liquid flowing downward. The mass transfer rate is determined by monitoring the rate of reduction in the equivalent bubble diameter during the initial absorption process. It is found that the interaction with the satellite bubbles generally hampers the dissolution of the primary bubble. The extent of reduction in the dissolution rate increases with the net contacting time during the interaction. When the secondary bubbles interact with the primary bubble mainly outside of its wake, however, the dissolution tends to be enhanced due to induced turbulence in the surrounding liquid flow. A simple theoretical model is developed to simulate the observed results as well as the basic features prevailing in a recently proposed scheme, called the GLAD system, for shallow injection of CO₂ gas into seawater.     

Distribution of the free and oil‐trapped air bubbles in simulated broths containing fungal biomass

The location of air bubbles (i.e. inside oil drops or free in the aqueous phase) was studied by image analysis as a function of the oil and biomass concentrations in a 2 L stirred tank using a simulated fermentation medium (aqueoussalt solution, castor oil, air and fungal biomass) agitated by a Rushton turbine. The solid (fungal) phase plays an important role in defining the location of bubbles, as the percentage (in bubble volume) of bubbles trapped in oil increases threefold when biomass is added to the medium. The bubbles located inside oil drops were found to occupy 60% of the total bubble volume and to be 40% smaller than those which were non‐oil associated. This phenomenon has important implications for oxygen mass transfer in multiphase fermentations.     

Bubble/droplet formation and mass transfer during gas–liquid–liquid segmented flow with soluble gas in a microchannel

Microchannels have great potential in intensification of gas–liquid–liquid reactions involving reacting gases, such as hydrogenation. This work uses CO₂–octane–water system to model the hydrodynamics and mass transfer of such systems in a microchannel with double T‐junctions. Segmented flows are generated with three inlet sequences and the size laws of dispersed phases are obtained. Three generation mechanisms of dispersed gas bubbles/water droplets are identified: squeezing by the oil phase, cutting by the droplet/bubble, cutting by the water–oil/gas–oil interface. Based on the gas dissolution rate, the mass transfer coefficients are calculated. It is found that water droplet can significantly enhance the transfer of CO₂ into the oil phase initially. When bubble‐droplet cluster are formed downstream the microchannel, droplet will retard the mass transfer. Other characteristics such as phase hold‐up, bubble velocity and bubble dissolution rate are also discussed. The information is beneficial for microreactor design when applying three‐phase reactions. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 63: 1727–1739, 2017     

Mass transfer rates from bubbles in stirred tanks operating with viscous fluids

In this paper, the role of liquid viscosity on the mass transfer rates in stirred tank reactors has been theoretically studied. Liquid viscosity affects liquid diffusivity and bubble size distribution by defining bubble stability in the flow. A population balance, taking into account the effect of liquid viscosity on the coalescence and break-up closures, has been combined with Higbie–Kolmogorov's theory to predict the effect of liquid viscosity on the mass transfer rates. Experimental results from the literature for stirred tanks operating with one single Rushton turbine have been used as comparison. Different moderately viscous aqueous solutions (glucose, glycerol and millet-jelly) have been considered. Bubble break-up depends on the critical deformation of the bubbles in the continuum phase. A correlation between the Weber critical number and the liquid viscosity has been found. Once the bubble distribution is accurately determined, the volumetric mass transfer rate in viscous solutions can be predicted theoretically.     

Effect of bubble contamination on rise velocity and mass transfer

An apparatus where individual bubbles are kept stationary in a downward liquid flow was adapted to simultaneously (i) follow mass transfer to/from a single bubble as it inevitably gets contaminated; (ii) follow its shape; and (iii) periodically measure its terminal velocity. This apparatus allows bubbles to be monitored for much longer periods of time than does the monitoring of rising bubbles. Thus, the effect of trace contaminants on bubbles of low solubility gases, like air, may be studied.Experiments were done with air bubbles of 1-5 mm initial equivalent diameter in a water stream. The partial pressure of air in the liquid could be manipulated, allowing bubbles to be either dissolving or kept at an approximately constant diameter.Both drag coefficient and gas-liquid mass transfer results were interpreted in terms of bubble contamination kinetics using a simplified stagnant cap model. Drag coefficient was calculated from stagnant cap size using an adaptation of Sadhal and Johnson's model (J. Fluid Mech. 126 (1983) 237).Gas-liquid mass transfer modelling assumed two mass transfer coefficients, one for the clean front of the bubble, the other for the stagnant cap. Adjusted values of these coefficients are consistent with theoretical predictions from Higbie's and Frössling's equations, respectively.     

Investigations on hydrodynamics and mass transfer in gas–liquid stirred reactor using computational fluid dynamics

In this work, the hydrodynamics and mass transfer in a gas–liquid dual turbine stirred tank reactor are investigated using multiphase computational fluid dynamics coupled with population balance method (CFD–PBM). A steady state method of multiple frame of reference (MFR) approach is used to model the impeller and tank regions. The population balance for bubbles is considered using both homogeneous and inhomogeneous polydispersed flow (MUSIG) equations to account for bubble size distribution due to breakup and coalescence of bubbles. The gas–liquid mass transfer is implemented simultaneously along with the hydrodynamic simulation and the mass transfer coefficient is obtained theoretically using the equation based on the various approaches like penetration theory, slip velocity, eddy cell model and rigid based model. The CFD model predictions of local hydrodynamic parameters such as gas holdup, Sauter mean bubble diameter and interfacial area as well as averaged quantities of hydrodynamic and mass transfer parameters for different mass transfer theoretical models are compared with the reported experimental data of [Alves et al., 2002a] and [Alves et al., 2002b] . The predicted hydrodynamic and mass transfer parameters are in reasonable agreement with the experimental data.     

Predictions of bubble behavior in sulfuric acid solutions by a set of solutions of Navier-Stokes equations

The nonlinear behavior of individual bubbles in liquid under periodic pressure fields has drawn considerable attention in conjunction with the design of sonochemical reactor and sonoluminescence phenomena. In this study, the motion of bubble under ultrasound was predicted by a set of solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations for the gas inside a spherical bubble and an analytical treatment of the Navier-Stokes equations for the liquid adjacent to the bubble wall. The theory permits one to predict correctly the bubble radius-time curve and the characteristics of the sonoluminescing gas bubble in sulfuric acid solutions, such as the peak temperature and pressure at the collapse point. It has turned out that the heat transfer inside the bubble and the liquid layer plays a major role in the bubble behavior. Mass transfer through the interface does not affect the bubble motion.     

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     

高气液密度比的传热相变复合模型

为研究两相流动中热量传递机制,基于格子Boltzmann热模型及大密度比模型,将相变源项引入到控制两相密度分布函数中,来描述温度场对气液相变的影响,提出了一个可以描述气液密度比达到2778的传热相变复合模型。通过对压力速度分布函数的回归修正克服了气液密度比过大造成的数值不稳定问题。模拟了溴化锂水溶液中双气泡的上升运动过程及周围的温度场分布,研究发现：双气泡上升时,碰撞前上方气泡温度高于下方气泡,碰撞时,两气泡间液桥打开,发生热量传递,气泡内部温度变得均匀;双气泡体积先减小再增大,碰撞时体积达到最大值,在融合成一个气泡后体积逐渐缩小,最终趋于稳定;初始气泡的体积越大,气泡上升过程中的速度越大。     

The modifications of a plane mixing layer by condensed bubbles

Injecting superheated water vapour bubbles into a sub-cooled shear flow will induce heat and mass transfer in the form of condensation. Of particular interest is finding the characteristic role that the large-scale vortex structures play on bubble condensation. Because the heat transfer and condensation take place mainly due to convection, the bubble is expected to collapse at an earlier stage because of the trapping by large-scale vortices. The aim of this paper is to investigate two-way thermal and momentum interaction between bubbles and the large-scale coherent structures in a plane turbulent shear layer, focusing on the effect of bubble condensation on large-scale vortex structures embedded in plane, free shear layers. The parameters such as initial bubble temperature, bubble injection location, and carrier fluid temperature have been chosen to examine their effects on the condensation and dispersion of bubbles. Because superheated vapour bubbles immersed within a sub-cooled shear flow field experience heat transfer, the gas phase will certainly condense into liquid if these bubbles remain surrounded long enough by this same sub-cooled liquid. Accordingly, bubble condensation is evident within the shear layer and bubble dispersion is influenced by the large-scale vortex structures. The main driving force behind complete bubble condensation was the difference in temperature between the bubble vapour and the carrier fluid. It was revealed that the effect of the large-scale vortex structures is that the condensed bubbles acquire a larger dispersion than bubbles that were not subject to thermal coupling.     

Gas holdup,bubble size distribution,and mass transfer in an airlift reactor with ceramic membrane and perforated plate distributor

The airlift reactor is one of the most commonly used gas–liquid two-phase reactors in chemical and biological processes. The objective of this study is to generate different-sized bubbles in an internal loop airlift reactor and characterize the behaviours of the bubbly flows. The bubble size, gas holdup, liquid circulation velocity, and the volumetric mass transfer coefficient of gas–liquid two-phase co-current flow in an internal loop airlift reactor equipped with a ceramic membrane module (CMM) and a perforated-plate distributor (PPD) are measured. Experimental results show that CMM can generate small bubbles with Sauter mean diameter d₃₂ less than 2.5 mm. As the liquid inlet velocity increases, the bubble size decreases and the gas holdup increases. In contrast, PPD can generate large bubbles with 4 mm < d₃₂ < 10 mm. The bubble size and liquid circulation velocity increase as the superficial gas velocity increases. Multiscale bubbles with 0.5 mm < d₃₂ < 10 mm can be generated by the CMM and PPD together. The volumetric mass transfer coefficient k_La of the multiscale bubbles is 0.033–0.062 s⁻¹, while that of small bubbles is 0.011–0.057 s⁻¹. Under the same flow rate of oxygen, the k_La of the multiscale bubbles increases by up to 160% in comparison to that of the small bubbles. Finally, empirical correlations for k_La are obtained.     

Influence parameters in the ozonation of phenol wastewater treatment using bubble column reactor under continuous circulation

The ozonation of phenol wastewater treatment system has been investigated with effective mass transfer between gas and liquid phase in a bubble column reactor. The designed bubble column reactor was investigated for increasing the rate of mass transfer of ozone, the rate of oxidation of phenol in the solution, the solubility and decomposition rate of ozone in the distilled water were also studied at different flow rates. The decomposition rate constants were calculated based on pseudo first order kinetics. The oxidation of phenol was investigated in order to provide the overall reaction rate constant for the reaction between ozone and phenol at 25 °C. The influence of the operating parameters like initial phenol concentration, ozone flow rate and pH for the destruction of phenol by ozonation were studied. The pseudo first order rate constant was depending on the initial concentration of phenol solution. A comparison of TOC removal percentage between bubble column reactor and bubble diffuser using ozonation were reported.     

Coupling simulation analysis of micro-interface mass transfer in aerobic fermentation

The microbial aerobic fermentation process is a multi-phase biochemical reaction system, and the mass transfer rate of oxygen in air between the gas-liquid two phases has an important impact on the biochemical fermentation process. The transmission characteristics of oxygen in the bubble are the result of the combined influence of the bubble's morphology, movement and system temperature, pressure and physical properties. By establishing a two-component air bubble rising and its oxygen mass transfer coupling model, numerical simulation is used to describe the strengthening effect of the micro-interface system in the aerobic fermentation system. The energy dissipation theory is used to evaluate the energy consumption of the manufacturing microbubble system to obtain a cost-effective bubble shape and a high oxygen utilization rate. The calculation results show that, under the preset working conditions, in a reactor with a certain liquid level, the bubbles with an initial radius greater than 500 μm will escape the system in a short time, resulting in waste of materials; while the initial radius of bubbles is less than 100 μm, its residence time, mass transfer efficiency and oxygen utilization rate will be significantly improved. The generation of small bubbles requires greater energy consumption. Without considering the influence of other factors, if the DO value in the system is maintained at 20% to 30%, the maximum oxygen mass transfer rate can be obtained.     

好氧发酵过程微界面传质耦合模拟分析

微生物好氧发酵过程是一个多相生化反应体系,空气中的氧在气液两相间的传质速率对生化发酵过程有重要影响。而气泡中氧的传递特性是气泡的形态、运动及体系温度、压力和物性综合影响的结果。通过建立两组分空气气泡上升及其氧传质耦合模型,进而采用数值模拟描述好氧发酵体系中微界面体系的强化效果。利用能量耗散理论评价制造微气泡体系的能耗,以获得高性价比的气泡形态和较高的氧利用率。计算结果表明,在预设的工况下,液面高度一定的反应器内,初始半径大于500 μm的气泡会在短时间内逸出体系,造成物料浪费;而气泡初始半径小于100 μm时,其停留时间、传质效率和氧利用率会显著提升。小气泡的生成需要较大的能耗,需要综合生产成本考虑。在不考虑其他因素影响的情况下,体系中的DO值如果维持在20%~30%,可以获得最大的氧气传质速率。