Effect of particles on hydrodynamics and mass transfer in a slurry bubble column: Correlation of experimental data

The effects of particle concentration and size on hydrodynamics and mass transport in an air–water slurry bubble column were experimentally studied. When the particle concentration α_s increased from 0% to 20%, the averaged gas holdup decreased by ~30%, gas holdup of small bubbles and gas–liquid volumetric mass transfer coefficient decreased by up to 50%, while the gas holdup of large bubbles increased slightly. The overall effect of particle size was insignificant. A liquid turbulence attenuation model which could quantitatively describe the effects of particle concentration and size was first proposed. Semi-empirical correlations were obtained based on extensive experimental data in a wide range of operating conditions and corrected liquid properties. The gas holdup and mass transfer coefficient calculated by the correlations agreed with the experimental data from both two-phase and three-phase bubble columns, with a maximum error <25%.     

Comparison of Hydrodynamics and Mass Transfer in Airlift and Bubble Column Reactors Using CFD

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is used to compare the hydrodynamics and mass transfer of an internal airlift reactor with that of a bubble column reactor, operating with an air/water system in the homogeneous bubble flow regime. The liquid circulation velocities are significantly higher in the airlift configuration than in bubble columns, leading to significantly lower gas holdups. Within the riser of the airlift, the gas and liquid phases are virtually in plug flow, whereas in bubble columns the gas and liquid phases follow parabolic velocity distributions. When compared at the same superficial gas velocity, the volumetric mass transfer coefficient, k_La, for an airlift is significantly lower than that for a bubble column. However, when the results are compared at the same values of gas holdup, the values of k_La are practically identical.     

Hydrodynamics,Mass Transfer and Gas Scrubbing in a Co‐current Droplet Column Operating at High Gas Velocities

The main objective of this work was to propose a new process for household fume incineration treatment: the droplet column. A feature of this upward gas‐liquid reactor which makes it original, is to use high superficial gas velocities (13 m s^–1) which allow acid gas scrubbing at low energy costs. Tests were conducted to characterize the hydrodynamics, mass transfer performances, and acid gas scrubbing under various conditions of superficial gas velocity (from 10.0 to 12.0 m s^–1) and superficial liquid velocity (from 9.4·10^–3 to 18.9·10^–3 m s^–1). The following parameters characterized the hydrodynamics: pressure drops, liquid hold‐ups, and liquid residence time distribution were identified and investigated with respect to flow conditions. To characterize mass transfer in the droplet column, three parameters were determined: the gas‐liquid interfacial area (a), the liquid‐phase volumetric mass transfer coefficient (k_La) and the gas‐phase volumetric mass transfer coefficient (k_Ga). Gas absorption with chemical reaction methods were applied to evaluate a and k_Ga, while a physical absorption method was used to estimate k_La. The influence of the gas and liquid velocities on a, k_La, and k_Ga were investigated. Furthermore, tests were conducted to examine the utility of the droplet column for the acid gas scrubbing, of gases like hydrogen chloride (HCl) and sulfur dioxide (SO₂). This is a process of high efficiency and the amount of pollutants in the cleaned air is always much lower than the regulatory European standards imposed on household waste incinerators.     

Gas‐Liquid Mass Transfer in Pulp Retention Towers

The volumetric gas‐liquid mass transfer rate, k_La, was measured under batch conditions in a 0.28 m diameter laboratory‐scale retention column. Tests on water, and on unbleached kraft (UBK) pulp suspensions (mass fractions, C_m from 0.013 to 0.09) were made with air or nitrogen sparged through the column at superficial gas velocities between 0.0015 to 0.05 m/s. k_La varied with suspension mass concentration and superficial gas velocity, initially decreasing with increasing mass concentration, reaching a minimum between C_m = 0.03 and 0.06, and then increasing. The minimum in k_La coincided with a change in hydrodynamics within the column, from bubble column behaviour below C_m = 0.03 to porous solid behaviour above C_m = 0.06.     

Gas Holdup and Volumetric Mass Transfer Coefficient in a Slurry Bubble Column

The gas holdup, ?, and volumetric mass transfer coefficient, k_La, were measured in a 0.051 m diameter glass column with ethanol as the liquid phase and cobalt catalyst as the solid phase in concentrations of 1.0 and 3.8 vol.‐%. The superficial gas velocity U was varied in the range from 0 to 0.11 m/s, spanning both the homogeneous and heterogeneous flow regimes. Experimental results show that increasing catalyst concentration decreases the gas holdup to a significant extent. The volumetric mass transfer coefficient, k_La, closely follows the trend in gas holdup. Above a superficial gas velocity of 0.04 m/s the value of k_La/? was found to be practically independent of slurry concentration and the gas velocity U; the value of this parameter is found to be about 0.45 s^–1. Our studies provide a simple method for the estimation of k_La in industrial‐size bubble column slurry reactors.     

Mass transfer in bubble column for industrial conditions—effects of organic medium, gas and liquid flow rates and column design

Most of available gas-liquid mass transfer data in bubble column have been obtained in aqueous media and in liquid batch conditions, contrary to industrial chemical reactor conditions. This work provides new data more relevant for industrial conditions, including comparison of water and organic media, effects of large liquid and gas velocities, perforated plates and sparger hole diameter.The usual dynamic O₂ methods for mass transfer investigation were not convenient in this work (cyclohexane, liquid circulation). Steady-state mass transfer of CO₂ in an absorption-desorption loop has been quantified by IR spectrometry. Using a simple RTD characterization, mass transfer efficiency and k_La have been calculated in a wide range of experimental conditions.Due to large column height and gas velocity, mass transfer efficiency is high, ranging between 40% and 90%. k_La values stand between 0.015 and and depend mainly on superficial gas velocity. No significant effects of column design and media have been shown. At last, using both global and local hydrodynamics data, mass transfer connection with hydrodynamics has been investigated through k_La/ε_G and k_La/a.     

Mass Transfer Characteristics of Syngas Components in Slurry System at Industrial Conditions

The gas‐liquid mass transfer behavior of syngas components, H₂ and CO, has been studied in a three‐phase bubble column reactor at industrial conditions. The influences of the main operating conditions, such as temperature, pressure, superficial gas velocity and solid concentration, have been studied systematically. The volumetric liquid‐side mass transfer coefficient k_La is obtained by measuring the dissolution rate of H₂ and CO. The gas holdup and the bubble size distribution in the reactor are measured by an optical fiber technique, the specific gas‐liquid interfacial area aand the liquid‐side mass transfer coefficient k_L are calculated based on the experimental measurements. Empirical correlations are proposed to predict k_L and a values for H₂ and CO in liquid paraffin/solid particles slurry bubble column reactors.     

Bubble shape,gas flow and gas–liquid mass transfer in pulp fibre suspensions

Gas–liquid mass transfer in pulp fibre suspensions in a batch‐operated bubble column is explained by observations of bubble size and shape made in a 2D column. Two pulp fibre suspensions (hardwood and softwood kraft) were studied over a range of suspension mass concentrations and gas flow rates. For a given gas flow rate, bubble size was found to increase as suspension concentration increased, moving from smaller spherical/elliptical bubbles to larger spherical‐capped/dimpled‐elliptical bubbles. At relatively low mass concentrations (C_m = 2–3% for the softwood and C_m ? 7% for the hardwood pulp) distinct bubbles were no longer observed in the suspension. Instead, a network of channels formed through which gas flowed. In the bubble column, the volumetric gas–liquid mass transfer rate, k_La, decreased with increasing suspension concentration. From the 2D studies, this occurred as bubble size and rise velocity increased, which would decrease overall bubble surface area and gas holdup in the column. A minimum in k_La occurred between C_m = 2% and 4% which depended on pulp type and was reached near the mass concentration where the flow channels first formed.     

Mass transfer characteristics in a gas–liquid reciprocating plate column. II. Interfacial area

This paper is the second part of a continuing study on mass transfer in a reciprocating plate column. The first part dealt with k_La. The bubble size distribution, the Sauter mean diameter and the interfacial area are the subject of this paper. The bubble size increases slightly with gas flow rate and decreases with agitation intensity above a “critical” level. The interfacial area increases with increasing agitation and aeration intensities, while the liquid flow rate and coalescing properties of the liquid have no significant effect. The specific interfacial area is correlated in terms of the superficial gas velocity and the maximum power consumption. The correlations obtained for k_La and a were used to calculate k_L. It was found that k_L depends on the agitation intensity and the bubble size.     

HYDRODYNAMICS AND MASS TRANSFER IN DOWNFLOW BUBBLE COLUMN

Gas holdup, effective interfacial area and volumetric mass transfer coefficient were measured in two and three phase downflow bubble columns. The mass transfer data were obtained using the chemical method of sulfite oxidation, and the gas holdup was measured using the hydrostatic technique. Glass beads and Triton 114 were used to study the effects of solids and liquid surface tension on the gas holdup and the mass transfer parameters a and k_L a . The gas holdup in three phase systems was measured for non-wettable (glass bead) and wettable (coal and shale particles) solids.

The mass transfer data obtained in the downflow bubble column were compared with the values published for upflow bubble columns. The results indicate that in the range of superficial gas velocities (0.002-0.025) m/s investigated, the values of the mass transfer coefficient were of the same order of magnitude as those observed in upflow systems, but the values of interfacial area were at least two fold greater. Also, the results showed that the operating variables and the physical properties had different influences on a and k_L a in the downflow bubble column. Correlations for a and k_L a for the downflow bubble column are proposed which predict the data with adequate accuracy in the range of operating conditions investigated.     

PIV/PLIF Study of Impinging Jet Ozone Bubble Column with Mixing Nozzles

This paper introduces the results obtained from a particle image velocimetry/planer laser-induced fluorescence (PIV/PLIF) system used in characterizing an impinging jet ozone bubble column with mixing nozzles. This research aims at evaluating the mixing effect resulting from the nozzle diffusers attached to the outlets of the impinging jets' injectors. The PIV system was used to study the flow patterns of the liquid and gas phases under different superficial gas and liquid velocities (u_G and u_L, respectively) values (from 0.002 to 0.017 m/s and from 0.008 to 0.024 m/s, respectively). Furthermore, a particle dynamics analyzer (PDA) system was used to characterize the bubble sizes under the same operating conditions. The PLIF system was used to determine the liquid axial dispersion coefficient (D_L, m²/s) for the mentioned range of operating conditions. The column average gas hold-up (?_G) and specific interfacial area (a) were then determined in order to evaluate the column's mass transfer efficiency. The results showed that higher mass transfer rates can be obtained by using this column, as high ?_G, and were achieved.     

Mass transfer characteristics of low H/D bubble columns

The mass transfer characteristics of 0.2, 0.6 and 1.0 m diameter bubble columns having a low height to diameter ratio (0.6 < H/D < 4) and operated at low superficial gas velocities (0.01 < V_G < 0.08 m/s) were investigated. Different types of spargers were used to study their effect on the column performance. The values of effective interfacial area, a , and volumetric mass transfer coefficient, k_L a , were measured by using chemical methods. The values of a and k_L a were found to vary from 40 to 420 m²/m³ of clear liquid volume and from 0.01 to 0.16 s^?1, respectively, in the range of V_G, and V_L covered in this investigation. The value of the liquid-side mass transfer coefficient, k_L, was found to vary from 3 × 10^?4 to 7 × 10⁴ m/s. The effect of the physical properties of the system on the values of a was also investigated. The height to diameter ratio and the column diameter did not have significant effect on the values of gas holdup, a and k_L a . It was found that the sparger design is not of critical importance, provided multipoint/multiorifice gas spargers are used. The comparative performance of bubble columns having low H/D with horizontal sparged contactors and tall bubble columns has been considered.     

Oxygen mass transfer coefficient in bubble column slurry reactor with ultrafine suspended particles and neural network prediction

The gas–liquid volumetric mass transfer coefficient was determined by the dynamic oxygen absorption technique using a polarographic dissolved oxygen probe and the gas–liquid interfacial area was measured using dual‐tip conductivity probes in a bubble column slurry reactor at ambient temperature and normal pressure. The solid particles used were ultrafine hollow glass microspheres with a mean diameter of 8.624 µm. The effects of various axial locations (height–diameter ratio = 1–12), superficial gas velocity (u_G = 0.011–0.085 m/s) and solid concentration (ε_S = 0–30 wt.%) on the gas–liquid volumetric mass transfer coefficient k_La_L and liquid‐side mass transfer coefficient k_L were discussed in detail in the range of operating variables investigated. Empirical correlations by dimensional analysis were obtained and feed‐forward back propagation neural network models were employed to predict the gas–liquid volumetric mass transfer coefficient and liquid‐side mass transfer coefficient for an air–water–hollow glass microspheres system in a commercial‐scale bubble column slurry reactor. © 2012 Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering     

Experimental Study of Oxygen Mass Transfer Coefficient in Bubble Column with High Temperature and High Pressure

The volumetric gas‐liquid mass transfer coefficient, k_Lα, for oxygen was studied by using the dynamic method in slurry bubble column reactors with high temperature and high pressure. The effects of temperature, pressure, superficial gas velocity and solids concentration on the mass transfer coefficient are systemically discussed. Experimental results show that the gas‐liquid mass transfer coefficient increases with the increase in pressure, temperature, and superficial gas velocity, and decreases with the increase in solids concentration. Moreover, k_Lα values in a large bubble column are slightly higher than those in a small one at certain operating conditions. According to the analysis of experimental data, an empirical correlation is obtained to calculate the values of the oxygen volumetric mass transfer coefficient for a water‐quartz sand system in two bubble columns with different diameter at high temperature and high pressure.     

Revisiting Basics of kLa Dependency on Aeration in Bubble Columns: a Is Surprisingly Stable

A comprehensive experimental characterization of a small-scale bubble column bioreactor (60 mL) is presented. Bubble size distribution (BSD), gas holdup, and k_La were determined for different types of liquids, relevant fermentation conditions and superficial gas velocities u_G. The specific interfacial area a and liquid mass transfer coefficient k_L have been identified independent of each other to unravel their individual impact on k_La. Results show that increasing u_G leads to larger bubbles and higher gas holdup. As both parameters influence a in opposite ways, no increase of a with u_G is found. Furthermore, k_L increases with increasing bubble size outlining that improved oxygen transfer is not the result of higher a but of risen k_L instead. The results build the foundation for further simulative investigations.     

Efficiency of a Gas‐Liquid Contactor for the Oxygenation of Activated Sludge: Assessment of Mass Transfer Coefficient

The aim of this work is to investigate a co‐current air‐liquid downward flow bubble column with air entrainment by liquid injection nozzle in order to use it as an aerator in activated sludge treatment plants. The study concerns the determination of mass transfer efficiency by measuring the mass transfer coefficient, k_La, both in clean water and in activated sludge. In clean water, this parameter is determined by three methods, i.e., gassing out method, absorption with chemical reaction and off‐gas method. In activated sludge medium, k_La values are measured by two methods, i.e., sludge reoxygenation and the hydrogen‐peroxide method. The values of k_La obtained in clean water are compared to those obtained in sludge, enabling the assessment of the α factor, i.e., ratio of oxygen transfer coefficient sludge/clean water. The results are in good agreement with those reported previously in the literature.     

Ozone Mass Transfer in the Mixing Zone of a Confined Plunging Liquid Jet Contactor

In a Confined Plunging Liquid Jet Contactor (CPLJC) a jet of liquid is introduced into an enclosed cylindrical column (downcomer) that generates fine gas bubbles that are contacted with the bulk liquid flow. The region where the liquid jet impinges the receiving liquid and expands to the wall of the downcomer is called the Mixing Zone (MZ). In the MZ, the energy of the liquid jet is dissipated by the breakup of the entrained gas into fine bubbles, and the intense recirculation of the two-phase mixture. The study presented here was undertaken to quantify the ozone-water mass transfer performance of the MZ through the determination of the volumetric mass transfer coefficient, k_La (s^?1), and to produce a model for predicting k_La based on the specific energy dissipation rate. It was found experimentally that k_La in the MZ increased with increasing superficial gas velocity. A maximum experimental k_La value of 0.84 s^?1 was achieved which compares well to other contactors used in water treatment. Such a large k_La value combined with the small volume of the reactor, favorable energy requirements and safety features of the system, suggests that the CPLJC provides an attractive alternative to conventional ozone contactors. The relatively large mass transfer rates were found to be a function of the high gas holdup and fine bubble size generated in the MZ, which results in an almost froth-like consistency. A model based on the specific energy dissipation rate of the water jet, E (kg · m^?1· s^?3), and MZ bubble size was used to predict k_La in the MZ. Using E, the number average bubble size was predicted which was then used to calculate the liquid phase mass transfer coefficient k_L. The bubble size was also used with the predicted mixing zone gas holdup to calculate the specific interfacial area, a (m^?1), which was then combined with k_L to determine a predicted value of k_La. The average deviation between experimental and predicted k_La was 6.2%.     

Regime transition in viscous and pseudo viscous systems: A comparative study

A comprehensive quantitative study on the effect of liquid viscosity (1 ≤ µ_L ≤ 1149 mPa‐s) on the local flow phenomena of the gas phase in a small diameter bubble column is performed using ultrafast electron beam X‐ray tomography. The internal dynamic flow structure and the bubble size distribution shows a dual role of the liquid viscosity on the hydrodynamics. Further, the effect of solid concentration (C_s = 0.05, 0.20) on the local flow behavior of the gas phase is studied for the pseudo slurry viscosities similar to the liquid viscosities of the gas–liquid systems. The effects of liquid and pseudo slurry viscosities on flow structure, bubble size distribution, and gas phase distribution are compared. The bubble coalescence is significantly enhanced with the addition of particles as compared to the system without particles for apparently same viscosity. The superficial gas velocity at which transition from homogeneous bubbly to slug flow regime occurs is initiated by the addition of particles as compared to the particle free system for apparently same viscosity. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 60: 3079–3090, 2014     

HYDRODYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS AND GAS-LIQUID MASS TRANSFER IN A DRAFT TUBE SLURRY REACTOR

Fundamental characteristics of hydrodynamics and mass transfer have been measured in an air lift slurry reactor with a draft tube. The solid suspension capacity, i.e., the critical solid holdup, the gas holdup and the volumetric gas-liquid mass transfer coefficient were measured in the two draft tube columns of 0.1485 and 0.10?m in diameter. Four activated carbon beads ranging in size from 0.25 to 2.19?mm in average diameter were utilized as suspended solids in the experiments.

The critical solid holdup in the draft tube slurry column is found to be much greater than that in the conventional bubble column. An empirical correlation is developed to account for the critical solid holdup behavior in the draft tube column. The gas holdup in the draft tube column agrees well with that in the bubble column. The overall gas-liquid mass transfer coefficient, k₁awas measured by the oxygen probe method. The effect of solid holdup on k₁a is found to be negligible in the present system. The empirical equation is developed to correlate k₁a in the draft tube slurry reactor.     

Hydrodynamics and mass transfer in an upward venturi/bubble column combination

The hydrodynamics and mass transfer characteristics of a venturi/bubble column combination were studied at high liquid superficial velocities of up to 0.35 m/s. The gas hold-up was increased by 50% to 150% and the overall volumetric mass transfer coefficient was tripled when the venturi was used as “gas distributor” instead of a porous distributor. A correlation of the overall volumetric mass transfer coefficient (K_La) with the gas hold-up, valid for gas hold-ups as high as 0.3, was proposed for the cylindrical bubble column section. The energy consumption per mole of oxygen transferred was lower than with most distributors and the oxygen transfer rate per unit of reactor volume was higher than in a bubble column with a porous distributor. The venturi/bubble column combination is a compact and efficient system which does not have the operating problems of systems which require internals.