Gas‐solid flow distribution through identical vertical passages: Modeling and stability analysis

As previous evidence shows, the distribution of gas‐solid flow traveling through identical parallel paths can be significantly nonuniform, often with harmful operating consequences in practice. A fundamental analytical and numerical study is performed on the distribution of gas‐solid pneumatic flow passing through a “Y branch”. While many steady‐state gas‐solid distribution solutions, including a uniform distribution, satisfy the governing equations, linear stability analysis indicates that the uniform distribution is stable the most likely solution of the system. Both 2‐D (two‐dimensional) and 3‐D multiphase computational fluid dynamic simulations and stability analyses confirm the analytical conclusions. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2010     

Investigation of nonuniformity in a liquid–solid fluidized bed with identical parallel channels

Previous work has demonstrated that multiphase flow through identical parallel channels and multiple cyclones can give rise to significant nonuniformity among the flow paths. This article presents results from a study where the distribution of voidage and flux through parallel channels in liquid–solid fluidized beds is investigated. Experiments and computational fluid dynamics simulations were performed with 1.2 mm glass beads fluidized by water where a cross baffle divided a 191 mm diameter column into four identical parallel channels. Voidages were measured by optical fiber probes. Simulations from a three‐dimensional unsteady‐state Eulerian–Eulerian model based on FLUENT software showed good agreement with the experimental results. Despite the symmetrical geometry of the system, the average voidage and particle velocities in one channel differed somewhat from those in the others. Increasing the superficial liquid velocity could increase voidage greatly and affect the degree of nonuniformity in the four channels. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2009     

Design of parallel cyclones based on stability analysis

The uniform distribution of gas solids flow across parallel cyclones is required for high efficiency. In this study, we introduced mass flow rate ratio between solids and gas (C_T) to present multi‐phase interaction. And the direct Liapunov method is used to detect the instability of uniformity. Due to the special symmetry in this system, the criterion can be simplified into identifying the concavity (concave or convex) of pressure drop across a single cyclone with respect to C_T. Then, based on the stability analysis of uniformity, a novel design principle is provided to prevent non‐uniform distribution at dense phase. The effect of geometrical factor, i.e. dimensionless vortex finder diameter d_r, on the stability of uniformity has been further investigated. The phase diagram, illustrating the effects of both operational parameter (C_T) and geometrical parameter (d_r) on stability of uniformity is calculated to give a clue of designing a robust parallel cyclones system. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 62: 4251–4258, 2016     

3‐D Simulations of an Internal Airlift Loop Reactor using a Steady Two‐Fluid Model

Three‐dimensional (3‐D) simulations of an internal airlift loop reactor in a cylindrical reference frame are presented, which are based on a two‐fluid model with a revised k‐? turbulence model for two‐phase bubbly flow. A steady state formulation is used with the purpose of time saving for cases with superficial gas velocity values as high as 0.12 m/s. Special 3‐D treatment of the boundary conditions at the axis is undertaken to allow asymmetric gas‐liquid flow. The simulation results are compared to the experimental data on average gas holdup, average liquid velocity in the riser and the downcomer, and good agreement is observed. The turbulent dispersion in the present two‐fluid model has a strong effect on the gas holdup distribution and wall‐peaking behavior is predicted. The CFD code developed has the potential to be applied as a tool for scaling up loop reactors.     

Microchannel Emulsification Using Stainless‐Steel Chips: Oil Droplet Generation Characteristics

The first stainless‐steel microchannel (MC) emulsification chips with grooved MC arrays, each consisting of uniform‐sized parallel channels and a terrace, were developed. These chips enabled successful spontaneous‐transformation‐based generation of uniformly sized droplets of soybean oil and silicone oil. As for the influence of the dispersed‐phase velocity in a channel, the critical velocity below which uniform‐sized droplets were obtained from the channels depended on the interfacial tension between two phases. The maximum productivity of uniform‐sized oil droplets for the stainless‐steel MC emulsification chips was estimated to be several milliliters per hour. An adapted capillary number that considers the wettability of the dispersed phase of two different oils could be useful for understanding the flow state of the dispersed phase during droplet generation.     

Advantages of Forced Non‐steady Operated Trickle‐Bed Reactors

Trickle‐bed reactors are usually operated in the steady state trickle flow regime. Uneven liquid distribution and the formation of hot spots are the most serious problems experienced during trickle flow operation. In this paper, we advocate the use of non‐steady state operation of trickle‐bed reactors. Based on a square‐wave cycled liquid feed, several operation modes are developed that involve the artificial induction of natural pulses and control of the catalyst wetting efficiency over longer times. The operation modes aim at increasing the mass transfer rate of the limiting reactant and simultaneous prevention of flow maldistribution and hot spot formation. The operation modes are distinguished by a relatively fast and slow cycling of the liquid feed. The potential advantages of the developed feed strategies on reactor performance are evaluated.     

Shear‐Induced Fabrication of Multiple Parallel Alginate Gel Filaments Using Alginate–Polyethylene Glycol Blend

A rigid assembly of alginates is formed in aqueous media primarily via hydrogen bonding between guluronic units. A flow of aqueous alginate solution in a co‐flow capillary can form alginate gel fibers by contact with Ca²⁺ ions in sheath flow. Mixing with polyols [e.g., polyethylene glycol (PEG)] facilitates the shaping of the alginate assembly because PEG disrupts the assembly of the extended alginate chains to instead form alginate–PEG complexes that exhibit shear‐thinning behavior. The shear‐induced fibrous domains of the globular alginate–PEG complexes can be partitioned by a PEG‐rich phase, resulting in multiple parallel alginate gel filaments when the strong ionic‐field‐induced PEG‐rich phase is adjusted and an alginate–PEG complex phase is used as the aqueous two‐phase separation system.     

Experimental Investigation on the Holdup Distribution of Oil‐Water Two‐Phase Flow in Horizontal Parallel Tubes

An experimental investigation was conducted to study the holdup distribution of oil and water two‐phase flow in two parallel tubes with unequal tube diameter. Tests were performed using white oil (of viscosity 52 mPa s and density 860 kg/m³) and tap water as liquid phases at room temperature and atmospheric outlet pressure. Measurements were taken of water flow rates from 0.5 to 12.5 m³/h and input oil volume fractions from 3 to 94 %. Results showed that there were different flow pattern maps between the run and bypass tubes when oil‐water two‐phase flow is found in the parallel tubes. At low input fluid flow rates, a large deviation could be found on the average oil holdup between the bypass and the run tubes. However, with increased input oil fraction at constant water flow rate, the holdup at the bypass tube became close to that at the run tube. Furthermore, experimental data showed that there was no significant variation in flow pattern and holdup between the run and main tubes. In order to calculate the holdup in the form of segregated flow, the drift flux model has been used here.     

Three‐Dimensional CFD Simulation of Stratified Two‐Fluid Taylor‐Couette Flow

Two‐fluid Taylor‐Couette flow, with either one or both of the co‐axial cylinders rotating, has potential advantages over the conventional process equipment in chemical and bio‐process industries. This flow has been investigated using three‐dimensional CFD simulations. The occurrence of radial stratification, the subsequent onset of centrifugal instability in each phase, the cell formation and the dependency on various parameters have been analyzed and discussed. The criteria for the stratification, Taylor cell formation in each phase have been established. It can be stated that the analysis of single‐phase flow acts as the base state for the understanding of radial stratification of the two‐fluid flows. The extent of interface deformation also has been discussed. A complete energy balance has been established and a very good agreement was found between dissipation rate by CFD predictions and the energy input rate through the cylinder/s rotation.     

Characterization of Air‐Water Two‐Phase Vertical Flow by Using Electrical Resistance Imaging

The characterization of air‐water two‐phase vertical flow in a 12 m flow loop with 1.5 m of vertical section is studied by using electrical resistance tomography (ERT). By applying a fast data collection to a dual‐plane ERT sensor and an iterative image reconstruction algorithm, relevant information is gathered for implementation of flow characteristics, particularly for flow regime recognition. A cross‐correlation method is also used to interpret the velocity distribution of the gas phase on the cross section. The paper demonstrates that ERT can now be deployed routinely for velocity measurements and this capability will increase as faster measurement systems evolve.     

Stagnation‐point Flow towards a Stretching Surface

An exact similarity solution of the Navier‐Stokes equations is obtained. The solution represents steady axisymmetric stagnation‐point flow towards a stretching surface. It is shown that the flow displays a boundary‐layer structure when the stretching velocity of the surface is less than the free stream velocity. On the other hand, an inverted boundary layer is formed when the surface stretching velocity exceeds the free stream velocity. Temperature distribution in the flow is found when the surface is held at a constant temperature. It turns out that when the surface temperature exceeds the ambient temperature, heat flows from the surface to the fluid near the stagnation point but further away from the stagnation point, heat flows from the fluid to the stretching surface.     

Liquid‐liquid two‐phase flow patterns in a new helical microchannel device

Flow patterns of liquid‐liquid two‐phase fluids in a new helical microchannel device were presented in this paper. Three conventional systems were considered: kerosene‐water, n‐butyl acetate‐water, and butanol‐water. Six different flow patterns, slug flow, continuous parallel flow, discontinuous deformation parallel flow, discontinuous deformation parallel‐droplet flow, droplet‐slug flow, and filiform‐droplet flow, were observed. The influence of interfacial tension, microchannel structure, and rotation rate on two‐phase flow patterns were studied, and a universal flow pattern map was presented and discussed. The systems without mass transfer (0.1 g/g (10 %) tri‐n‐butyl phosphate (TBP)‐water, 0.2 g/g (20 %) TBP‐water, and 0.8 g/g (80 %) TBP‐water) and the system with mass transfer (0.8 g/g (80 %) TBP‐0.62 g/g (62 %) H₃PO₄) were used to verify the validity of the proposed universal flow pattern map in predicting flow patterns. The results showed that the former compared with the latter can be predicted more accurately by the universal flow pattern map.     

Liquid‐phase axial dispersion of turbulent gas–liquid co‐current flow through screen‐type static mixers

This article discusses the characteristics of turbulent gas–liquid flow through tubular reactors/contactors equipped with screen‐type static mixers from a macromixing perspective. The effect of changing the reactor configuration, and the operating conditions, were investigated by using four different screen geometries of varying mesh numbers. Residence time distribution experiments were conducted in the turbulent regime (4500 < Re < 29,000). Using a deconvolution technique, the RTD function was extracted to quantify the axial/longitudinal liquid‐phase dispersion coefficient. The findings highlight that axial dispersion increases with an increasing flow rate and/or gas‐phase volume fraction. However, regardless of the number and geometry of the mixing elements, reactor configuration, and/or operating conditions, the recorded liquid‐phase axial dispersion coefficients in the presence of screens was lower than that for an empty pipe. Furthermore, the geometry of the screen was found to directly affect the axial dispersion coefficient in the reactor. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 63: 1390–1403, 2017     

Experimental and Numerical Investigations of a Dual‐Stage Cyclone Separator

Cyclone separators can be utilized in parallel to increase particle collection efficiency. However, this leads to a maldistribution problem that causes separation performance deterioration. To improve the flow distribution, a dual‐stage multicyclone separator (DSCS) was designed, containing a tangential‐inlet circle pathway cyclone array, an axial‐inlet radiation pathway cyclone array, and a cylindrical outer chamber. Experimental and computational fluid dynamics results revealed the gas‐particle flow distribution through multicyclone arrays. Effects of flow distribution on particle deposition were investigated experimentally. Particle trajectories inside the cyclone separators were also observed. The multicyclone array proved to generate a uniform inlet velocity distribution. The proposed cyclone separator can be considered as an option to accomplish dilute gas‐particle separation.     

Polysulfone–polyaniline‐type membranes obtained in a steady‐state system: Structural and hydrodynamic characteristics

Structural and hydrodynamic characteristics of polysulfone–polyaniline‐type membranes (Psf‐PANI) are depending on a number of parameters. The present article details the influence upon such membrane of the characteristics of obtaining process, type of monomer used in generating the composite membrane and pH of the solution permeating the membranes (for flow characterization). Membranes were obtained in a steady‐state process, using an inversion phase technique accompanied by an in situ chemical reaction. The composite character of the material is a result of inserting, in the pre‐existing porous polymer structure (polysulfone, Psf) of a second monomer (aniline or substituted anilines, e.g., amino‐benzoic acid, 3ABA) through an oxidative polycondensation reaction. The steady‐state process ensures a constant and reproducible structure of the composite material. As the study shows, from the two types of obtained composite membranes, the one that uses aniline polycondensation on polysulfone substrate presents better performances, compared with the one that uses substituted aniline in polycondensation (Psf‐P3ABA). POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:1640–1647, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Transfert de matière liquide‐disque dans l'écoulement radial divergent entre disques — étude portant sur différentes échelles du système

Steady‐state mass transport between liquid phase and parallel circular disks was studied experimentally in divergent radial flow. The results demonstrate the effect of electrode size/cell via a general empirical correlation based on dimensionless groups (Sh, Re, Sc) and geometrical factors. The correlation is discussed comparatively with an approximate theoretical solution for the laminar flow regime.     

Improved Void Fraction Correlation for Two‐Phase Flow in Large‐Diameter Annuli

A flow pattern‐independent void fraction correlation for gas‐liquid two‐phase flow in vertical large‐diameter annuli is established. Two equations are proposed for the parameters of a drift flux model‐based correlation: the distribution parameter and the drift flux velocity. These equations are expressed as a function of two‐phase flow variables including void fraction, fluid properties, pipe geometry, and phase flow rates. Experiments were performed to study the void fraction of vertical air‐water two‐phase flow in large‐diameter annuli. The obtained experimental data along with the literature data of Caetano are used to verify the performance of the proposed void fraction correlation. The accuracy of this correlation is compared with nineteen frequently used correlations in literature. The proposed correlation was found to predict the void fraction consistently with a better accuracy.     

Deposition from waxy mixtures in a flow‐loop apparatus under turbulent conditions: Investigating the effect of suspended wax crystals in cold flow regime

The effect of suspended wax crystals in wax‐solvent mixtures on the solid deposition process in the cold flow regime was investigated experimentally and analyzed with a steady‐state heat transfer model. A bench‐scale flow‐loop apparatus, incorporating a concentric‐cylinder heat exchanger, was used to measure solid deposition, in the cold flow and hot flow regimes, from wax‐solvent mixtures under turbulent flow conditions. The deposition experiments were performed with two wax‐solvent mixtures, at two flow rates, with two coolant temperatures, at 8 wax‐solvent mixture temperatures, and for several deposition times. The role of wax crystals on the deposition process was investigated by repeating some of the deposition experiments with a pre‐filtered wax‐solvent mixture. In all experiments, the deposit was formed rapidly such that a thermal steady‐state was attained within 30 min. The deposit mass increased with decreasing the mixture temperature in the hot flow regime, reached a maximum as the mixture temperature became equal to the WAT, and then decreased linearly to zero in the cold flow regime as the mixture temperature approached the coolant temperature. Also, the deposit mass decreased with an increase in the Reynolds number and the coolant temperature. The data and predictions confirmed the solid deposition to be a thermally‐driven process. The experimental deposit mass results in the cold flow regime, supported by model predictions, were identical for the unfiltered and filtered mixtures, which showed that the suspended wax crystals do not affect the deposit mass or thickness.     

Explicit Critical Pressure Ratio for Choked Two‐Phase Homogeneous Nozzle Flow

The throat‐to‐stagnation critical pressure ratio for a frictionless and adiabatic nozzle flow of a homogeneous, nonflashing two‐phase mixture can only be expressed as the numerical solution of a transcendental equation. A simple, physically plausible approximation is herein proposed, which fits well over the whole range of mass flow qualities.