大颗粒三相环隙气升式环流反应器流体力学行为

研究了大颗粒体系气升式环流反应器的流体力学行为,考察了表观气速和颗粒质量分数对床层膨胀高度、循环液速和固含率分布的影响。实验结果表明,按颗粒的运动状态不同可以将反应器内的流动分为3个区域,即固定床区域、膨胀床区域和循环床区域,各流动区域内的流动行为存在显著差异。随着颗粒质量浓度的增大,起始流化气速和最小循环气速均显著增大。基于三相流化床的流化模型和环流反应器的特点建立了相应的数学模型,对大颗粒三相气升式环流反应器的起始流化气速和最小循环气速进行了预测,模型预测值与实验测量值吻合良好。     

三相环流反应器流体力学行为

气升式三相环流反应器综合了鼓泡塔和机械搅拌釜的优良性能,具有结构简单、无机械传动部件、易密封、造价低、容易实现工业放大等优点,在石油、化工、电化学和生物化工等领域得到了广泛应用．随着能源形势的日趋紧张,环流反应器在液相法合成甲醇、浆态床一步法合成二甲醚、煤液化等过程中的应用得到许多研究人员的重视,并取得了重要的研究进展．由于目前对其内部流动行为尚缺乏系统的认识,进行工业设计和操作过程中仍显理论指导不足     

Hydrodynamic characteristics in an inverse internal-loop airlift-driven fibrous-bed bioreactor

An inverse internal loop airlift-driven fibrous bed bioreactor (ALFBB) was designed by combining the advantages of an internal loop airlift bioreactor and packed bed bioreactor into one column. This bioreactor, with a high degree of design flexibility, is expected to handle genetically engineered cells as well as fragile cells, which are shear-sensitive. The hydrodynamic characteristics of the combined system have been investigated. Woven cotton was set in the downcomer of the I-IL-ALB to represent the fibrous bed packed bed and the outcome results were compared with those of the polyurethane foam (PUF) packed system and the unpacked I-IL-ALB system. The effects of the packing nature, packing height, packing top and bottom clearances, gaps between adjacent fiber surfaces, and superficial gas velocities were investigated. The hydrodynamic output variables included the gas holdup and liquid circulation velocity. Gas holdup for all packed systems continuously increased with increases in packing height, packing top clearance and superficial gas velocity. It was found highest in the downcomer of the cotton packed system than in the PUF counter part due to the roughness and hydrophilicity of the woven cotton fibrous material. Increased amounts of packing in the I-IL-ALB, whether in the form of cotton or PUF decreased the liquid circulation velocity in the bioreactor because of the increased frictional resistance and tortuosity. The reduction in liquid circulation velocity was significant for large packing with small gaps between fiber surfaces and increased bottom clearances of the cotton packed system. Empirical models based on packing properties are presented which accurately predict the gas holdup, whereas energy based model was proposed to predict liquid circulation velocities. The optimum hydrodynamic conditions were observed with cotton packing.     

表观气速对气升式环流反应器性能的影响

利用计算流体力学(CFD)数值模拟方法.采用Euler法双流体模型研究了表观气速对气液两相气升式环流反应器的液体循环速率和气含率的影响.实验结果与数值模拟结果吻合较好.结果表明.气含率和液体速率在反应器内分布不均匀,气含率在相同的径向位置变化很小,液体速率随着表观气速的增加而增加.     

Behavior of gas bubbles in a concentric cylindrical airlift column

Using a light transmission optical probe, the effect of superficial gas velocity on bubble properties(bubble size, bubble rising velocity, bubble frequency and local gas holdup) at axial and radial positions was determined in the riser and the downcomer of a concentric cylindrical airlift reactor. The vertical bubble length, the bubble rising velocity and the bubble frequency at axis in the riser increased with increasing superficial gas velocity and the bed height. The radial distribution of the local gas holdup, vertical bubble length and bubble frequency in the riser and the downcomer were found to be non-uniform. The profiles of the local gas holdup, vertical bubble length and bubble rising velocity in the riser were shown as parabolic shapes. The local gas holdup, the vertical bubble length and the bubble frequency in the downcomer changed with superficial gas velocity and the distance from the top of the draft tube.     

多室气升式环流反应器流动特性的数值模拟

在空气-水两相多室气升式环流反应器（MALR）中,采用欧拉欧拉两相流模型对扇形反应室内气液两相流动过程进行了数值模拟研究,考察了上升室的气含率、液体速度随表观气速的变化,最后用实验数据对模拟结果进行了验证.结果表明,某一上升室气含率受该室表观气速的影响较大,与另一上升室表观气速的影响较小;循环液体与上升室流体流动型式有关;气含率和循环液速的模拟值与实验值的平均相对误差分别为5.36％和8.28％;说明了应用数值模拟方法研究MALR流动特性的可行性.     

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.     

Hydrodynamics of a Multi‐Stage Internal Loop Airlift Reactor

The local hydrodynamic properties in a multi‐stage internal loop airlift reactor were investigated in this study. The gas‐liquid two‐phase flow hydrodynamic properties, including gas holdup, bubble velocity, bubble diameter, and liquid circulation velocity at various stages were measured by dual electrical resistivity probes and conductivity cells. Detailed studies on the gas holdup, bubble velocity, bubble diameter, and liquid circulation velocity were conducted with respect to various values of superficial gas. The Zuber and Findlay drift flux model was used to represent the variation of slip velocity with total gas‐liquid velocity at various stages and the model fits the data well.     

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     

Hydrodynamics of a slurry airlift reactor at high solid concentrations

The hydrodynamics of a slurry airlift reactor at high solid concentrations were experimentally studied. The influences of the average solid concentration, superficial gas velocity and particle size on the radial and axial profiles of the solid holdup, average gas holdup and liquid circulation velocity were investigated. The local solid holdup was measured with an electrical conductivity probe. At low solid concentrations or high superficial gas velocities, the radial profile of the solid holdup was uniform. At high solid concentrations, the radial profile of the solid holdup was nonuniform, with higher values near the wall. This radial nonuniformity increased with decreased superficial gas velocity or increased average solid concentration. The axial profile of the cross-sectional average solid holdup was uniform at all conditions in this work, even at high solid concentrations. The average gas holdup and liquid circulation velocity increased with the superficial gas velocity but decreased with the average solid concentration. A mathematical model based on the balance of the transverse lift force and turbulent dispersion force was proposed to predict the radial profile of the solid holdup. Reasonable predictions were obtained from this model with an adjustable model parameter.     

气-液-固三相逆流化床动力学研究

在内径0.152 m,高2.5 m的气-液-固三相逆流化床中系统研究了动力学特性。获得了气体和液体速度及聚乙烯和聚丙烯颗粒密度对各相含率和最小液体流化速度的影响规律。研究发现随着气体速度的增加,液体最小流化速度降低;随着气体或液体速度增加,气体、液体和固体含率均增加。     

底部间隙对多室环流反应器流动特性的影响

在空气-水-石英砂三相多室气升式环流反应器(MALR)中,调节底部转角连接处间隙高度分别为18,28,38mm,在表观气速1.2～4.2cm/s范围内,实验研究了底部阻力系数、相含率、循环液速随反应器底部间隙的变化规律。结果表明,随着底部间隙的增大,底部转角处的局部阻力系数减小,循环液速增大,流体夹带进入下降室的气泡和固体颗粒均增多,下降室的气含率和固含率均增大。     

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.     

EFFECTS OF GEOMETRY ON HYDRODYNAMICS IN EXTERNAL-LOOP AIRLIFT REACTORS

Experimental investigations were carried out in model external-loop airlift reactors. Two reactors of laboratory scale (riser liquid height ranged between 1.16-1.56 m, riser diameter 0.03 m, A_D/A_R ratio between 0.111-1,000, total liquid volume V_T = (1.189-2.446).10^-3m³) and pilot-plant scale (riser liquid height of 4.4 and 4.7 m, respectively, riser diameter 0.200 m, A_D/A_R ratio of 0.1225 and 0.040 m, total liquid volume, V_T = (0.144-0.170) m³) were used.

The influences of reactor geometry characterized by some parameter as: A_D/A_R ratio, liquid height in riser and downcomer and liquid height in gas separator, together with the amount of introduced air, on the basic hydrodynamic design parameters: gas holdup and liquid circulation velocity were analysed.

The influence of gas sparger design on gas holdup and liquid velocity was found to be negligible.

The experimental liquid circulation velocity was correlated using a simplified form of the energy balance in airlift reactors, valid for external-loop airlift reactors with almost complete phase separation at the top.

An original dimensionless correlation for gas holdup prediction involving superficial velocities of gas and liquid, cross sectional areas, dispersion height, riser diameter, as well as Froude number, was obtained.     

Effect of aeration mode on the performance of center‐ and annulus‐rising internal‐loop airlift bioreactors

Extensive experimental studies on internal‐loop airlift reactors, including center‐rising (CR‐ALR) and annulus‐rising airlift reactors (AR‐ALR), have been reported in the literature. However, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, the effects of the aeration mode on the local hydrodynamics remain an under‐investigated area, especially for complex culture media. At present, it is difficult to select the best aeration mode for ALRs due to limited understanding of the pros and cons of the different modes. This study presents a detailed quantitative investigation of the overall gas holdup, local liquid velocity, liquid circulation time, shear rate distribution, and volumetric mass transfer coefficient in center‐ and annulus‐rising airlift bioreactors to better understand the effect of aeration mode on airlift bioreactor performance. Particle image velocimetry is employed to conduct local measurements. The results show that the overall gas holdup, liquid circulation time, and volumetric mass transfer coefficient are larger in the AR‐ALR than in the CR‐ALR. The local liquid velocity circulating into the downcomer of the AR‐ALR, which contributes to bubble entrainment and therefore to overall gas holdup, is higher than in the CR‐ALR. It was observed that a large circulation loop formed in the CR‐ALR, whereas two counter‐looping circulation cells appeared in the AR‐ALR. It was also found that the shear rate field was more uniform in the AR‐ALR than the CR‐ALR although the shear rates were similar in magnitude.     

Hydrodynamics of an inverse liquid–solid circulating conventional fluidized bed

An inverse liquid–solid circulating conventional fluidized bed (I-CCFB) is realized by injecting particles from the top of a conventional liquid–solid fluidized bed (0.076 m ID and 5.4 m height) that is operated in a newly developed circulating conventional fluidization regime located between the conventional and circulating fluidization regimes. The I-CCFB can achieve a higher solids holdup compared to both conventional and circulating liquid–solid fluidized beds. A new parameter, the bed intensification factor, is defined to quantify the increased solids holdup observed with external solids circulation. The Richardson–Zaki equation is shown to be applicable to the I-CCFB regime and can be used to correlate the slip velocity and solids holdup, both of which increase with the solids circulation rate. A new flow regime map is presented, including the I-CCFB and a variety of other liquid–solid fluidized beds.     

LOCAL HYDRODYNAMICS IN AN EXTERNAL LOOP AIRLIFT SLURRY REACTOR WITH AND WITHOUT A RESISTANCE-REGULATING ELEMENT

The hydrodynamic behavior of an external loop airlift slurry reactor (ALSR) with and without a resistance-regulating element was studied with a fiber optic probe and ultrasound Doppler velocimetry. The influences of the superficial gas velocity and solid holdup on the global gas holdup and radial profiles of the suspension circulation velocity in the downer and of gas holdup, bubble size, and bubble rise velocity in the riser were studied. Local measurements allow a better understanding of the flow behavior in the reactor and can be used for CFD modeling and validation. Experimental results show that the resistance-regulating element increases the gas holdup and decreases the suspension circulation velocity, indicating that an optimum design of the flow resistance is needed to obtain the maximum gas-liquid volumetric mass transfer coefficient for a specific superficial gas velocity. A high superficial gas velocity and low solid holdup are favorable for increased uniformity of the radial profile of the gas holdup and bubble rise velocity. Hydrodynamic models that predict the gas holdup and suspension circulation velocity were developed for an ALSR with and without a resistance-regulating element. Good agreement was obtained between measured and predicted values.     

气升式内环流反应器内局部气含率径向分布

The local gas holdup profiles in an internal-loop airlift reactor were studied experimentally by using dual electrical conductivity probe under different conditions,including superficial velocity,surface tension and liquid viscosity.The results showed that the radial gas holdup profile has a parabolic shape,which was consistent with the empirical model of Luo.Local gas holdup distribution parameters were obviously influenced by flow regime and almost remained unchanged in the same flow regime.In the gas distributor region,the profiles were steeper in the homogenous flow regime than in the heterogeneous flow regime.However,in the stable region,there was an inverse change trend in two flow regimes.The increase of surface tension,superficial velocity and liquid viscosity made the profile of local gas holdup steeper in two flow regimes.     

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     

LOCAL HYDRODYNAMICS IN AN EXTERNAL LOOP AIRLIFT SLURRY REACTOR WITH AND WITHOUT A RESISTANCE-REGULATING ELEMENT

The hydrodynamic behavior of an external loop airlift slurry reactor (ALSR) with and without a resistance-regulating element was studied with a fiber optic probe and ultrasound Doppler velocimetry. The influences of the superficial gas velocity and solid holdup on the global gas holdup and radial profiles of the suspension circulation velocity in the downer and of gas holdup, bubble size, and bubble rise velocity in the riser were studied. Local measurements allow a better understanding of the flow behavior in the reactor and can be used for CFD modeling and validation. Experimental results show that the resistance-regulating element increases the gas holdup and decreases the suspension circulation velocity, indicating that an optimum design of the flow resistance is needed to obtain the maximum gas-liquid volumetric mass transfer coefficient for a specific superficial gas velocity. A high superficial gas velocity and low solid holdup are favorable for increased uniformity of the radial profile of the gas holdup and bubble rise velocity. Hydrodynamic models that predict the gas holdup and suspension circulation velocity were developed for an ALSR with and without a resistance-regulating element. Good agreement was obtained between measured and predicted values.