CFD Simulations for Continuous Flow of Bubbles through Gas-Liquid Columns: Application of VOF Method

2007 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abid Akhtar ◽  
Vishnu Pareek ◽  
Moses Tadé
Keyword(s):  
Present Model ◽  
Bubble Column ◽  
Water System ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Oscillatory Behaviour ◽  
Gas Velocity ◽  
Cfd Simulations ◽  
Predicted Values ◽  
Superficial Gas Velocity ◽  
Small Bubbles

Hydrodynamics study of a continuous bubble chain rising through liquid column has been performed for laboratory scale bubble column using the volume-of-fluid (VOF) approach. The effect of operating and design parameters on the bubble size distribution and rise trajectory has been investigated for air-water system. For the same distributor, simulation results have indicated the formation of small bubbles at low superficial gas velocity and relatively large bubbles at higher velocities. The increase in the hole-size of distributor has shown similar behaviour. Analysis of bubble trajectories for different superficial gas velocities and distributors has demonstrated an oscillatory behaviour exhibited by small bubbles formed at low superficial gas velocity. A reasonable agreement between the predicted values of gas hold-up with the experimental work has validated the present model.

Effects of Chemical Reactions on the Local Hydrodynamics in Slurry Bubble Column Reactors Operating under Typical Fischer-Tropsch Process Conditions – Ii

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Omar M. Basha ◽  
Badie I. Morsi
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Reactions ◽  
Catalyst Concentration ◽  
Bubble Column ◽  
Pilot Scale ◽  
Catalyst Loading ◽  
Cfd Model ◽  
Gas Velocity ◽  
Cfd Simulations ◽  
Bubble Column Reactors ◽  
Superficial Gas Velocity

AbstractOur rigorously validated Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model (Basha et al. 2016) was previously used to predict the effects of gas sparger designs and internals configurations on the local hydrodynamics in a pilot-scale and a conceptual large-scale slurry bubble column reactors (SBCRs) (Basha and Morsi 2018). In this study, the CFD model was used to predict the effect of incorporating the F-T reaction kinetics on the local hydrodynamics in the pilot-scale (0.3-m ID, 3-m height) and the overall performance of the pilot-scale and an industrial-scale (5.8-m ID, 42-m height) SBCRS, both operating under F-T conditions with iron catalyst.In the pilot-scale SBCR, the CFD simulations were carried out with catalyst concentrations of 5, 10 and 15 vol% and three H2/Co ratios of 1, 1.5 and 2, at temperature of 443 K, pressure of 20.5 bar and a superficial gas velocity of 0.24 m/s. The predictions showed that the presence of chemical reactions decreased the gas holdup and the Sauter mean bubble diameters along the reactor height by an average of 15.4 % and 17.63 %, respectively and strengthened the liquid circulations near the reactor wall. The predictions also showed that the CO and H2conversions increased with increasing the catalyst concentration, and the pilot scale SBCR could produce a maximum of 1.87 tons/day of C5+products at a catalyst concentration of 15 vol%.In the commercial-scale SBCR, the CFD simulations were conducted at a catalyst loading of 10 vol% at a temperature of 528 K, pressure of 29 bar and four superficial gas velocities of 0.12, 0.24, 0.3 and 0.4 m/s. The calculations were completed, however, the contours of the local hydrodynamics were not extracted due to computational and memory limitations associated with generating graphics of such a large and complex reactor geometry. The predictions showed that the CO conversions were 48 %, 59 %, 58 % and 55 %; the H2conversions were 36 %, 51 %, 56 % and 54 % and the C5+products yields were are 275, 576, 627 and 654 ton/day at the superficial gas velocities of 0.12, 0.24, 0.3 and 0.4 m/s, respectively. When comparing the CFD model predictions with those of the 1-D empirical model developed by Sehabiague et al. (Sehabiague et al. 2015) at a superficial gas velocity of 0.24 m/s and catalyst loading of 10 %, the CFD model was found to predict lower CO conversion, higher H2conversion and higher C5+yield.

scholarly journals Simulation Study on Gas Holdup of Large and Small Bubbles in a High Pressure Gas–Liquid Bubble Column

Processes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (9) ◽  
pp. 594 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fangfang Tao ◽  
Shanglei Ning ◽  
Bo Zhang ◽  
Haibo Jin ◽  
Guangxiang He
Keyword(s):  
Surface Tension ◽  
High Pressure ◽  
Bubble Column ◽  
Bubble Diameter ◽  
Gas Holdup ◽  
Operating Pressure ◽  
Gas Velocity ◽  
Superficial Gas Velocity ◽  
Critical Bubble ◽  
Small Bubbles

The computational fluid dynamics-population balance model (CFD-PBM) has been presented and used to evaluate the bubble behavior in a large-scale high pressure bubble column with an inner diameter of 300 mm and a height of 6600 mm. In the heterogeneous flow regime, bubbles can be divided into “large bubbles” and “small bubbles” by a critical bubble diameter dc. In this study, large and small bubbles were classified according to different slopes in the experiment only by the method of dynamic gas disengagement, the critical bubble diameter was determined to be 7 mm by the experimental results and the simulation values. In addition, the effects of superficial gas velocity, operating pressure, surface tension and viscosity on gas holdup of large and small bubbles in gas–liquid two-phase flow were investigated using a CFD-PBM coupling model. The results show that the gas holdup of small and large bubbles increases rapidly with the increase of superficial gas velocity. With the increase of pressure, the gas holdup of small bubbles increases significantly, and the gas holdup of large bubbles increase slightly. Under the same superficial gas velocity, the gas holdup of large bubbles increases with the decrease of viscosity and the decrease of surface tension, but the gas holdup of small bubbles increases significantly. The simulated values of the coupled model have a good agreement with the experimental values, which can be applied to the parameter estimation of the high pressure bubble column system.

scholarly journals Frictional Pressure Drop and Liquid Holdup of Churn Flow in Vertical Pipes with Different Viscosities

Geofluids ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Zilong Liu ◽  
Yubin Su ◽  
Ming Lu ◽  
Zilong Zheng ◽  
Ruiquan Liao
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Drop ◽  
Liquid Velocity ◽  
Gas Velocity ◽  
Liquid Holdup ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Frictional Pressure Drop ◽  
Viscous Oil ◽  
Predicted Values ◽  
Superficial Gas Velocity ◽  
Churn Flow

Churn flow commonly exists in the pipe of heavy oil, and the characteristics of churn flow should be widely understood. In this paper, we carried out air and viscous oil two-phase flow experiments, and the diameter of the test section is 60 mm. The viscosity range of the oil was 100~480 mPa·s. Based on the measured liquid holdup and pressure drop data of churn flow, it can be concluded that, due to the existence of liquid film backflow, positive and negative frictional pressure drop can be found and the change of frictional pressure drop with the superficial gas velocity is related to superficial liquid velocity. With the increase of viscosity, the change rate of frictional pressure drop increases with the increase of the superficial gas velocity. Combining our previous work and the Taitel model, we proposed a new pressure drop model for viscous oil-air two-phase churn flow in vertical pipes. By comparing the predicted values of existing models with the measured pressure drop data, the proposed model has better performance in predicting the pressure drop.

Mass Transfer Studies in a Novel Perforated Plate Bubble Column

2010 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Dhanasekaran ◽  
T. Karunanithi
Keyword(s):  
Mass Transfer ◽  
Liquid Velocity ◽  
Bubble Column ◽  
Perforated Plate ◽  
Gas Velocity ◽  
Plate Spacing ◽  
Mass Transfer Studies ◽  
Superficial Gas Velocity ◽  
Superficial Liquid Velocity

This investigation reports the experimental and theoretical results carried out to evaluate the volumetric mass transfer coefficient (kLa) in a novel hybrid rotating and reciprocating perforated plate bubble column. Countercurrent condition is performed. kLa is studied by the absorption of oxygen from air into deoxygenated water at room temperature (27 ± 1°C). Effects of agitation level, superficial gas velocity, superficial liquid velocity and plate spacing on kLa were analyzed and found to be significant. With an increase in agitation level at a constant superficial gas and liquid velocities, the breakage process of gas bubbles starts to be more pronounced and intensive oxygen mass transfer occurs. Hence, kLa increases sharply. kLa increases with an increase in superficial gas velocity, due to higher gas holdup and the enhanced breakup of bubbles. Similarly, kLa increases with an increase in superficial liquid velocity and the effect is found to be significant. When plate spacing is decreased (by increasing the number of plates), it is observed that the kLa increases at higher superficial gas velocity and agitation level. Correlation is developed for the determination of kLa and found to concur with experimental results. This correlation can be used for the determination of kLa for this hybrid column with 95% accuracy within the range of variables investigated in this present study.

Hydrodynamic Study of a Gas–liquid–solid Bubble Column Employing CFD–BPBM Method

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Weiling Li ◽  
Chuanwen Zhao ◽  
Ping Lu
Keyword(s):  
Bubble Size ◽  
Volume Fraction ◽  
Bubble Column ◽  
Particle Density ◽  
Solid Volume Fraction ◽  
Experimental Result ◽  
Bubble Coalescence ◽  
Phase System ◽  
Gas Velocity ◽  
Superficial Gas Velocity

Abstract The computational fluid dynamics – bubble population balance model (CFD–BPBM) was employed to predict the hydrodynamic characteristics of a gas–liquid–solid bubble column. A 3D time dependent numerical study was performed and the bubble size distributions at the conditions of different superficial gas velocity (0.089 m/s–0.22 m/s), solid volume fraction (0.03–0.30) and particle density (2500 kg/m3–4800 kg/m3) in the three–phase system were investigated, and the simulation results were compared with the experimental results. The bubble diameters ranging from 1 mm to 64 mm were divided into ten classes. The predicted pressure changing with the bed height had a good agreemeet with the experimental result. The bubble number density predicted decreased when the bubble size increased at each superficial gas velocity, and the bubble coalescence rate became greater than the breakup rate when Ug shifted from 0.089 m/s to 0.16 m/s. The bubble interaction was similar at 0.16 m/s and 0.22 m/s both at particle size dp = 75 μm and 150 μm. The bubble size corresponding to the maximum of the bubble volume fraction increased as Ug increased. The particles can make the bubble break up and coalesce simultaneously when the solid volume fraction was larger than 0.20, and therefore the particles had a contribution to both of the bubble coalescence and breakup in the bubble coalescence regime (Ug = 0.16 m/s). The effect of the particle density was similar with that of the solid volume fraction. Increasing the particle density can enhance the breakup rate of the large bubbles.

Bubble Diameter and Effective Interfacial Area in a Novel Hybrid Rotating and Reciprocating Perforated Plate Bubble Column

2012 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dhanasekaran S ◽  
Karunanithi T
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Velocity ◽  
Bubble Column ◽  
Bubble Diameter ◽  
Perforated Plate ◽  
Interfacial Area ◽  
Gas Velocity ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Superficial Gas Velocity ◽  
Plate Column

This investigation reports on the experimental and theoretical investigation carried out to evaluate the bubble diameter and effective interfacial area in a novel Hybrid Rotating and Reciprocating Perforated Plate Bubble Column. Air-water system is used in this investigation. Countercurrent mode is employed. The effects of agitation level, superficial gas velocity and superficial liquid velocity on the bubble size distribution are studied. The mean bubble diameter is predicted using photographic technique. A simple correlation is developed for the determination of mean bubble diameter. It is found that the mean bubble diameter values for hybrid column are 1.8 to 2.5 times smaller when compared with conventional reciprocating plate column. The interfacial area is calculated based on the experimental results of the gas holdup and bubble diameter. Effects of agitation level, superficial gas velocity, superficial liquid velocity and plate free area on the interfacial area have been investigated. Correlations are developed for the determination of interfacial area for both mixer-settler and emulsion regions. It could be noted that the interfacial area for the hybrid column is 3 to 6 times higher in both mixer-settler region and emulsion region than that of conventional reciprocating plate column which is quite large.

CFD-PBM simulation of hydrodynamics of microbubble column with shear-thinning fluid

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xi Zhang ◽  
Ping Zhu ◽  
Shuaichao Li ◽  
Wenyuan Fan ◽  
Jingyan Lian
Keyword(s):  
Kinetic Energy ◽  
Turbulent Kinetic Energy ◽  
Radial Direction ◽  
Liquid Velocity ◽  
Bubble Column ◽  
Gas Holdup ◽  
Gas Velocity ◽  
Gas Distributor ◽  
Superficial Gas Velocity ◽  
The Right

Abstract A numerical simulation was performed to study the hydrodynamics of micro-bubble swarm in bubble column with polyacrylamide (PAM) aqueous solution by using computational fluid dynamics coupled with population balance models (CFD-PBM). By considering rheological characteristics of fluid, this approach was able to accurately predict the features of bubble swarm, and validated by comparing with the experimental results. The gas holdup, turbulent kinetic energy and liquid velocity of bubble column have been elucidated by considering the influences of superficial gas velocity and gas distributor size respectively. The results show that with the rise of the superficial gas velocity, the gas holdup and its peak width increase significantly. Especially, the curve peak corresponding to high gas velocity tends to drift obviously toward the right side. Except for the occurrence of a smooth holdup peak at the column center under the condition of the moderate distributor size, the gas holdups for the small and large distributor sizes become flat in the radial direction respectively. The distribution of turbulent kinetic energy presents an increasingly asymmetrical feature in the radial direction and also its variation amplitude enhances obviously with the rise of gas velocity. The increase in gas distributor size can enhance markedly turbulent kinetic energy as well as its overall influenced width. At the low and moderate superficial gas velocity, the curves of the liquid velocity in radial direction present the Gaussian distributions, whereas the perfect distribution always is broken in the symmetry for high gas velocity. Both liquid velocities around the bubble column center and the ones near both column walls go up consistently with the gas distributor size, especially near the walls at the large distributor size condition.

Effect of Vibrating Sparger on Mass Transfer, Gas Holdup, and Bubble Size in a Bubble Column Reactor

2013 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laleh Hadavand ◽  
Ali Fadavi
Keyword(s):  
Mass Transfer ◽  
Transfer Coefficient ◽  
Mass Transfer Coefficient ◽  
Vibration Frequency ◽  
Bubble Size ◽  
Bubble Column ◽  
Gas Holdup ◽  
Bubble Column Reactor ◽  
Gas Velocity ◽  
Superficial Gas Velocity

Abstract Bubble size has a key role in gas holdup and mass transfer in bubble column reactors. In order to have small and uniform bubbles, a new structure was designed; the reactor operates in two modes, with vibrating sparger and conventional bubble column in which sparger is fixed. In vibrating mode, the sparger vibrates gently during gas entering. The vibrating sparger performs like a paddle, resulting in a forced recirculation of gas–liquid inside the reactor; moreover, the bubble detachment is accelerated. The superficial gas velocity was between 0.003 and 0.013 ms− 1, and the vibration frequency was changed between 0 and 10.3 Hz. The bubble size was measured at three various positions of the reactor height by photographic method and using MATLAB 7.0.1 software. The mass transfer coefficient was determined by means of the dynamic gassing-out method. The results show that the bubbles were bigger in vibrating mode than those working without vibration. The bubble size decreases with increase in height from sparger. Gas holdup increased with increase in superficial gas velocity and vibration frequency. The effect of vibration increased the gas holdup with an average of 70% for all superficial gas velocities. Volumetric mass transfer coefficient was almost stable as vibration frequency increased.

scholarly journals Effects of the Microbubble Generation Mode on Hydrodynamic Parameters in Gas–Liquid Bubble Columns

Processes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 663
Author(s):  
Shanglei Ning ◽  
Haibo Jin ◽  
Guangxiang He ◽  
Lei Ma ◽  
Xiaoyan Guo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bubble Column ◽  
Length Distribution ◽  
Water System ◽  
Gas Holdup ◽  
Chord Length ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Hydrodynamic Parameters ◽  
Gas Distributor ◽  
Liquid Bubble ◽  
Superficial Gas Velocity

The hydrodynamics parameters of microbubbles in a bubble column were studied in an air–water system with a range of superficial gas velocity from 0.013 to 0.100 m/s using a differential pressure transmitter, double probe optical fiber probe, and electrical resistance tomography (ERT) technique. Two kinds of microbubble generators (foam gun, sintered plate) were used to generate microbubbles in the bubble column with a diameter of 90 mm, and to compare the effects of different foaming methods on the hydrodynamics parameters in the bubble column. The hydrodynamic behavior of the homogeneous regime and the transition regime was also studied. The results show that, by changing the microbubble-generating device, the hydrodynamic parameters in the column are changed, and both microbubble-generating devices can obtain a higher gas holdup and a narrower chord length distribution. When the foam gun is used as the gas distributor, a higher gas holdup and a narrower average bubble chord length can be obtained than when the sintered plate is used as the gas distributor. In addition, under different operating conditions, the relative frequency distribution of the chord length at different radial positions is mainly concentrated in the interval of 0–5 mm, and it is the highest in the center of the column.

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