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Intrinsic Hydrodynamic Investigation of Three-Phase Bubble Column: Comparative Experimental Study on Gas Holdup

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Abstract

A comprehensive experimental study of the hydrodynamic behaviors for the specific system of air/paraffin oil/silica particles in a slurry bubble column of 0.15 m diameter and 2.9 m length has been carried out. The effect of regime transition, solid concentrations, static liquid height, sparger type and related bubble size on gas holdup over a range of superficial gas velocities has been investigated. From the experimental work, it is revealed that the gas holdup increases by increasing the superficial gas velocity and transition regime occurred at 0.043 to 0.08 m/s. The slope of this curve is steeper for homogeneous regime and less for heterogeneous regime. In addition, the presence of silica particle (0–40 vol %) inhibits bubble breakage, increases rise velocity and consequently decreases residence time and gas holdup. Approximately a 40% decrease in the overall gas holdup was observed by adding 40% solid particles to the air/paraffin oil system. Moreover, increasing static liquid height from 6 to 12 leads to about a 61% decrease in gas holdup in the absence of solid particles. Also, the use of a perforated plate instead of a porous one causes a 9% increase and a 21% decrease in bubble size and gas holdup, respectively. Finally, it is found that the Krishna and Sie correlation can predict gas holdup in the air/paraffin oil/silica particles system with an acceptable minimum relative error of about 8%.

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Funding

FUNDING

The authors wish to acknowledge the financial support granted by Ferdowsi University of Mashhad.

NOTATION

Symbols and Abbrevia-tions

 

Greeks

 

C s

solid concentration in slurry phase

σ

surface tension, N m–1

Cso

solid concentration at the bottom of the reactor

εg

gas holdup

D

diameter of reactor, m

\(\rho \)

density, kg m–3

d

bubble diameter, m

\(\mu \)

viscosity, kg m–1s–1

d 32

Sauter diameter, m

\(\upsilon \)

kinematic viscosity, m2s–1

d b

large bubble diameter, m

\(\zeta \)

dimensionless radial position

g

gravity acceleration, m s–1

Subscripts

 

H C

height of reactor, m

b

bubble

L

length of reactor, m

C

column

Mo

Morton number, dimensionless

cal

calculated

U G

superficial gas velocity, m s–1

df

dense phase

U–Udf

superficial gas velocity through the large bubbles, m s–1

expt

experimental

U trans

transition superficial gas velocity, m s–1

eff

effective

\({{\upsilon }_{{{\text{eff}}{\text{,rad}}}}}\)

radial momentum transfer coefficient, m2 s–1

G, L

gas and liquid phases

SBCR

slurry bubble column reactor

large

referring to large bubbles

RE

relative error

P

particle

ARE

absolute relative error

small

referring to small bubbles

Nlit/min

normal liter per minute

sl

slurry

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, University of Bojnord, Bojnord, Iran

    A. Garmroodi Asil

  2. Chemistry Department, Faculty of Basic Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

    A. Nakhaei Pour

  3. Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

    Sh. Mirzaei

Authors
  1. A. Garmroodi Asil
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  2. A. Nakhaei Pour
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  3. Sh. Mirzaei
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to A. Garmroodi Asil or A. Nakhaei Pour.

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A. Garmroodi Asil, Pour, A.N. & Mirzaei, S. Intrinsic Hydrodynamic Investigation of Three-Phase Bubble Column: Comparative Experimental Study on Gas Holdup. Theor Found Chem Eng 54, 331–341 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0040579520020050

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