FIBRE OPTIC AND CAPACITANCE PROBES IN TURBULENT FLUIDIZED BEDS

In the present study, local flow properties are investigated in pilot plant scale fluidized bed reactors using both fibre optic and capacitances probes. Measurements are conducted at ambient as well as at 150°C. The system used is air and spent FCC particles (mean particle diameter: 65pm). The static bed height is 1.6 m. Bubbling and turbulent regimes (V = 0.40 and 0.70 m/s) are investigated in two 0.3 and 0.5 m ID columns.

Bubble fraction under the bubbling regime and at room temperature, measured using fibre optic and capacitance probes, are in good agreement. However, in the turbulent regime, fibre optic probes are prone to underestimate the bubble fraction while capacitance sensors tend to overestimate it. These discrepancies between fibre optic and capacitance measurements increase with temperature.

Using capacitance probes, a prevalent flat bubble rise velocity profile is measured. This is assigned to the relatively slow response, to the size and to the geometry of the capacitance probes. Overall this gives an underestimation of the bubble frequency and an overestimation of the bubble contact time and the bubble contact length.

Due to the high fibre optic probe sensitivity, care should be taken in the interpretation of signals. Overestimation of bubble frequency leads to underestimation of both bubble contact times and bubble contact lengths.     

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.     

Modelling turbulent fluidized bed reactors: tracer and fibre optic probe studies

Phenomenological models for turbulent fluidized beds are presented in this study. These models are based on a “core-annulus” representation of the turbulent fluidized bed.Three flow regions are considered: (1) gas flows through a dense annular region and is either perfectly mixed or in plug flow; (2) gas circulates in the core as bubbles in plug flow; (3) gas is perfectly mixed in a dense emulsion phase, also in the core zone. The models also account for mass transfer between different regions by assuming various possible gas exchange paths.A new technique which combines novel reflective fibre optic probes and statistical signal treatment is used to measure local flow properties. Results from fibre optic experiments coupled with those from an inert non-adsorbing tracer (helium) allow for mass transfer parameter assessment.These data demonstrate the importance of incorporating an annular region in the simulation of the main bed section of turbulent fluidized beds. Modelling results of this work strongly suggest the critical importance of gas exchange between bubbles in the core and a pseudo-homogeneous annular region.     

Bubble size distribution in bubble columns

The bubble size distributions are measured for the air-water system as a function of air velocity at room temperature in two bubble columns. High speed cinephotography and fiber optic probe techniques are used to measure the bubble size. Our limited measurements suggest that the bubble size may be independent of gas velocity in the range 3.6 to 9.2 cm/s and may be dependent on column diameter with smaller bubbles for narrower columns. The bubble size appears to be smaller at the column wall than at distances away from the wall.     

FORMATION AND FLOW OF GAS BUBBLES IN A PRESSURIZED BUBBLE COLUMN WITH A SINGLE ORIFICE OR NOZZLE GAS DISTRIBUTOR

The characteristics of gas bubbles in a 5 cm diameter bubble column equipped with a single orifice of 1,3 or 5 mm diameter were investigated under system pressure of 0.1-15 MPa. The formation of gas bubbles was strongly affected by the system pressure. Under high pressures a dispersed gas jet was formed at gas velocities where spherical gas bubbles would have been formed at atmospheric pressure. The critical gas velocity between the bubbling regime and the jetting regime was correlated with the liquid phase Weber number and the gas phase Reynolds number based on the gas velocity at the orifice. Bubble size and gas holdup in the main part of the bubble column were also affected by the bubble formation pattern at the distributor     

Application of the double optic probe technique to distorted tumbling bubbles in aqueous or organic liquid

The optic probe technique is widely used to investigate bubble reactors. To derive values of bubble local velocities and bubble local sizes, a specific signal treatment is usually applied under severe assumptions for bubble path and shape. However, in most industrial reactors, bubble motion is chaotic and no common shape can be assumed.In this work, the reliability of the signal treatment associated with the optic probe technique is examined for distorted and tumbling bubbles. A double-tip optic probe is settled in a glass tank and the rise of bubbles is filmed simultaneously. Several trains of bubbles are studied, interactions between bubbles being gradually increased.Referring to image analysis, several ways to derive mean bubble velocities from optic probe data have been compared. Crenels from front tip and rear tip raw signals are associated and individual bubble velocities are derived. Nevertheless, complete velocity distributions are difficult to obtain, as they depend on the choice of the time within which the bubble is searched on the second tip. Using a simpler approach it is shown that the most probable velocity, calculated through the raw signals inter-correlation, is a correct estimation of the average bubble velocity.Concerning bubble size, bubble chord distributions show too high values due to bubble distortion and deviation. A simplified estimation of bubble mean Sauter diameter, using the most reliable measurements only (i.e., local gas hold-up, local mean bubbling frequency, and most probable bubble velocity), was tested for highly distorted bubbles; this method was validated both in water and cyclohexane.     

Local hydrodynamic properties of gas phase in an internal-loop airlift reactor

The local hydrodynamic properties of the gas phase in an internal-loop airlift reactor were investigated in this study. The hydrodynamic properties including gas holdup, bubble velocity and bubble chord length were measured by dual electrical resistivity probes. The chord length distribution was then transformed to the bubble size distribution by modeling the bubbles as ellipsoids. It was found that the gas holdup increased with decreasing bubble velocity. In addition, most bubbles tended to rise along the riser central axis. Thus, the gas holdup in the axis was higher. The bubble size, bubble velocity and gas holdup were relatively constant in the axial direction of the riser except in the zones near the gas sparger and the gas–liquid separator. The bubble velocity became slower when the bubbles approached the gas–liquid separator. Moreover, the bubble size and bubble velocity for the three-phase system were relatively insensitive to the radial direction compared to those for the two-phase system. It was also found in this study that the bubble rise velocity and bubble size for the three-phase system were lower than that for the two-phase system. However, the gas holdup for the three-phase system were higher than that for the two-phase system due to bubble breakage caused by the solid particles.     

Effect of gas expansion on the velocity of individual Taylor bubbles rising in vertical columns with water: Experimental studies at atmospheric pressure and under vacuum

This study was designed to determine the effect of gas expansion on the velocity of Taylor bubbles rising individually in a vertical column of water. This experimental study was conducted at atmospheric pressure or under vacuum (33.3 and ) using three different acrylic columns with internal diameters of 0.022, 0.032, and 0.052 m, and more than 4.0 m high. A non-intrusive optical method was used to measure velocity and length of Taylor bubbles at five different locations along the columns. The operating conditions used correspond to inertial controlled regime.In experiments performed under vacuum, there is considerable gas expansion during the rise of Taylor bubbles, particularly when they approach the liquid free surface where the pressure drop (due to the hydrostatic pressure) is of the order of magnitude of the absolute pressure. The liquid ahead of the bubble is displaced upward by an amount proportional to the gas expansion resulting in increased bubble velocity. The calculated Reynolds number suggests a laminar regime in the liquid ahead of the bubble. However, the experimentally determined velocity coefficient C for each column was much smaller than 2, which would be expected for laminar flow. The value of C obtained ranges from 1.13±0.09, for the narrowest column, to 1.40±0.24, for the widest column. This suggests that a fully developed laminar flow in the liquid ahead of the bubble is never achieved due to continuous bubble expansion at a variable rate, regardless of column height.The velocity coefficient C can be used to calculate the contribution of liquid motion to bubble velocity. Subtracting this contribution from the measured bubble velocity defines a constant value which is nearly identical to the bubble rise velocity measured in the same column operated as a constant volume system (two ends closed) where gas expansion is absent.     

Flow patterns in a pilot plant-scale turbulent fluidized bed reactor: Concurrent application of tracers and fiber optic sensors

Hydrodynamics of a turbulent fluidized bed is studied by means of the concurrent application of fiber optic sensors and a helium tracer. It is observed that in the vicinity of the column wall there is a high bubble activity region. Low bubble activity and negative bubble velocities are reported for the dense phase near the column centre-line region. A temperature increase from 22 to 145°C results in a more homogeneous turbulent fluidized bed with smaller bubbles and more gas flowing through an expanded dense bed emulsion phase. Mass transfer coefficients between bubble-emulsion (k_be) and bubble-annulus (k_ba) are evaluated. The dominant mass transfer path was the one from the bubbles to the annular region with k_ba being several times greater than k_be.     

Effect of bubble deformation on stability and mixing in bubble columns

The paper deals with hydrodynamics in bubble columns. The objective of the paper is to study stability and mixing in a bubble column. The modeling of parameters such as stationary drag and added mass is addressed. In addition, the effect of bubble deformation in terms of eccentricity is highlighted. In a previous paper, the transition between homogeneous and heterogeneous regimes in bubble column without liquid flow has been shown to be driven by the deformation of the bubbles associated to drag and added mass. In the present paper, this work is generalized to bubble column with liquid flow and to the transition from bubble flow to slug flow in a vertical pipe. Numerical simulations of gas-liquid reactors are presented. The numerical simulations are validated in the case of gas plume after the Becker et al. data (Becker, S., Sokolichin, A., & Eigenberg, G. (1994) Gas-liquid flow in bubble columns and loop reactors: Part II. Comparison of detailed experiments and flow simulations. Chemical Engineering Science, 49 (24B), 5747-5762. The numerical simulations are finally applied to a bubble column. The simulations of residence time distribution coupled to transient hydrodynamics are shown to be very sensitive to the modeling of interfacial transfer of momentum from the bubbles to the liquid in terms of drag and added mass, including the effect of bubble deformation.     

A probabilistic model for correcting the directional sensitivity of optical probe measurements

A probabilistic model is introduced for correcting the directional sensitivity of the optical probe technique routinely used to determine gas holdup and bubble dynamics in gas‐liquid systems. Measurements from optical probes oriented at various angles were collected from the tapered end of optical probes in regions where approximately unidirectional and bubbly flow conditions were observed. Based on logical assumptions, constitutive equations for a probabilistic model were formulated, and contributions to the overall local gas phase holdup from bubbles traveling in two opposite directions were quantified. The results demonstrate a novel and useful way to interpret optical probe measurements. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 61: 3516–3527, 2015     

Analysis of gas holdup in bubble columns with non-Newtonian fluid using electrical resistance tomography and dynamic gas disengagement technique

This paper presents an experimental analysis of the influence of the liquid rheology on the gas flow pattern in a bubble column reactor. Aqueous solutions of xanthan are selected as an example of non-Newtonian shear thinning fluid. Averaged gas holdup is determined by two experimental techniques: parietal pressure probes and electrical resistance tomography (ERT). ERT is also used to provide 2D images of the gas phase distribution in a column cross-section. Bubble size distributions are evaluated by a gas disengagement technique using the parietal pressure probes. All these techniques clearly show the gas flow pattern is different in Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids. Gas holdup values decrease when increasing the liquid viscosity and reach a minimum or a plateau. Homogeneous flow regime, observed in water at low gas velocities, tends to disappear when viscosity increases. This evolution is visualized by a much less isotropic distribution of the gas phase within cross-section of the column and by the appearance of much larger bubbles due to an increased coalescence phenomenon.     

单孔及微孔曝气低气速鼓泡床内气泡行为比较

引言鼓泡床反应器被广泛应用于吸收、液相氧化、好氧生化等气液反应过程,气体在液相中的分散情况对鼓泡床的反应和传质特性都有很大影响.为了提高气液传质效率,增加生产强度,工业反应器很多都是在高气速下操作(Ug>0·05m·s-1),很多研究都集中在高气速湍动鼓泡区[1~3].但对有机     

Local Bubble Dynamics and Macroscopic Flow Structure in Bubble Columns with Different Scales

Local bubble behaviours were investigated in three bubble columns with different diameters of 200, 400 and 800 mm. By means of a novel single‐tip optical fibre probe employing laser Doppler technique, the local gas holdup, bubble frequency, bubble size and velocity were measured simultaneously at different locations of the columns. Measurements were performed in air‐water system at superficial gas velocities up to 90 mm/s. The averaged profiles and instantaneous measurements were analyzed and compared for different columns. The presence of a coherent gross circulation structure spanning the entire column diameter in the larger column rather than a pair of symmetrical circulation cells observed in the smaller columns has been confirmed.     

采用压力传感技术测量鼓泡床中流体力学参数

引　言鼓泡床以其良好的传热、传质、相间充分接触和高效的可连续操作特性在许多领域得到了广泛应用 .在过去的 4 0多年里 ,人们采用许多测量方法(光导纤维、多普勒测速仪、电导法、压力传感技术 )对鼓泡床中的各种流动行为进行了大量研究 ,由于床层内流动的复杂性以及各测量手段间的差别 ,得出的结论不尽相同[1] ,而且工业反应多数在高温、高压、非透明体系下进行 ,这限制了许多测量技术的应用 .压力传感技术以其适用范围广、所需仪器便宜、耐用、测量结果准确的特点在鼓泡床流体力学参数测量中得到了广泛应用床层塌落法是压力传感技术在鼓泡床流体力学参数测量中的一个重要应用 .Sriram和Mann[2 ] 较早地将其应用于测量鼓泡床中的气含率 ;Fan等[3] 也曾利用此方法测量鼓泡床内的固含率 .前人大都采用压力传感技术测量床层内的平均相含率 ,而采用此方法测量大小气泡分数和气泡上升速度的报道很少 .本文根据前人在此方面的研究成果并结合本实验的特点进行了这方面的研究1　实验装置本实验结合工业对二甲苯氧化反应器的特点设计并建立了其流体力学冷模实验装置 ,如图 1所示 .鼓泡床高 6 6m ,内径 0 3m .在鼓泡床一侧自...     

Local hydrodynamic parameters of bubble column reactors operating with non‐Newtonian liquids: Experiments and models development

The effects of liquid phase rheology on the local hydrodynamics of bubble column reactors operating with non‐Newtonian liquids are investigated. Local bubble properties, including bubble frequency, bubble chord length, and bubble rise velocity, are measured by placing two in‐house made optical fiber probes at various locations within a bubble column reactor operating with different non‐Newtonian liquids. It was found that the presence of elasticity can noticeably increase the bubble frequency but decreases the bubble chord length and its rise velocity. The radial profiles of bubble frequency, bubble chord length, and bubble rise velocity are shown to be relatively flat at low superficial gas velocity while they become parabolic at high superficial gas velocity. Moreover, the bubble size and gas holdup are correlated with respect to dimensionless groups by considering the ratio between dynamic moduli of viscoelastic liquids. The novel proposed correlations are capable of predicting the experimental data of bubble size and gas holdup within a mean absolute percentage error of 9.3% and 10%, respectively. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 62: 1382–1396, 2016     

SEBS高黏度溶液气液鼓泡塔的流体力学研究

针对SBS加氢反应器开发与设计，以SEBS-1650己烷溶液为液相，采用差压法和床层塌落法研究了气液鼓泡塔中高黏度溶液的流体力学行为，考察了黏度对低表面张力溶液的气含率、大小气泡气含率、大小气泡上升速度和比表面积等因素的影响。结果表明，随黏度增加，大气泡增多，气含率明显降低，塔内流型处于湍流区；由床层塌落曲线确定鼓泡塔内存在三种类型的气泡：大气泡、小气泡及细小气泡，随黏度增加，小气泡与细小气泡逐渐减少；黏度对大小气泡的上升速度略有影响，比表面积随黏度增加而明显降低。根据实验结果给出了大小气泡气含率与平均气含率的计算公式。     

Characteristics of flow fields in the gas–liquid mini-bubble columns with particle image velocimetry measurements

As a new type of gas–liquid microreactors, the gas–liquid mini-bubble column has potential applications. However, few studies on the flow fields in the mini-bubble column can be found at present. In this work, particle image velocimetry (PIV) was used to visually study the velocity fields, vorticity fields and bubble dynamics in the gas–liquid mini-bubble columns with column inner diameters of 1–3 mm and mini-bubble diameters ranged from 0.7 to 1.3 mm. It is found that with the increase of superficial liquid velocity, bubbles rose from almost straight line to Z-shaped or S-shaped trajectory, and the bubble trajectory changed from one-dimension to three-dimension; when the bubble velocity changed, the bubble size and gas holdup decreased; bubble terminal velocity was controlled by bubble buoyancy and flow resistance, and increased slightly with bubble coalescence. These findings may provide basic reference for the design and scale-up of such a mini-bubble column reactor.     

Interaction between partitioning porous plate and rising bubbles in a trayed bubble column

In a trayed bubble column, the structure of the partitioning plate plays an important role on the bubble behavior. This study examined the effect of the opening ratio and pore size of the plate on the bubble break-up frequency and bubble size distribution. The sieve tray was used as the partitioning plate. The opening ratio was closely related to gas cap development. The stagnation of bubble flow and a gas cap were observed with an opening ratio less than 48.5%. The gas cap increased with decreasing opening ratio and increasing superficial gas velocity. The main effect of the sieve tray could be categorized into the additional drag force and bubble break-up depending on the sieve pore size. When the sieve pore size was smaller than the Sauter diameter of the bubble swarm, the movement of rising bubbles was interrupted by the drag force applied by the surrounding mesh lines. On the other hand, when the sieve pore size was larger than the Sauter diameter, the bubbles were affected by the additional bubble break-up. After the bubbles penetrated the sieve tray, the bubble size distribution shifted to a smaller one and the Sauter diameter decreased.     

Phasengrenzflächen in Blasenströmungen — Teil 2: Großblasen und Pfropfen

In the first part of this article an equation was derived for calculation of the specific interfacial are and the size distribution of bubbles in bubble flow. However, its application is limited to gas contents lower than 12%. At higher gas contents, large bubbles and gas plugs occur in the field of flow. These have a very low interfacial area per unit volume compared to small bubbles. Since large bubbles and gas plugs contain a large proportion of the gas in the flow, the overall interfacial area is reduced. In the present contribution, the gas content above which large bubbles and gas plugs occur is calculated. The results are subjected to experimental testing for vertical pipe flow. In addition, the volume fraction of the larger bubbles is calculated and the results verified experimentally by measurements in bubble columns. Subsequently, the specific enterfacial area with and without large bubbles is calculated for high gas contents. The results are in agreement with values measured for bubble columns and column plates.