用CFD研究气升式内环流生物反应器下降管中的流体力学性质

在对气升式内环流生物反应器内部流动分析基础上,全面考虑反应器下降管中气泡的并聚破碎、气液两相间相互作用和滑移等, 建立了能描述反应器下降管中复杂流动的CFD数学模型. 运用CFX-4.4对模型方程进行求解, 通过求解得到了包括气液两相速度场、局部气含率分布等详尽信息,并就液相流动速度与相应条件下的PIV测试结果进行了比较,主体流动速度的偏差在20%以下,且两者总的变化趋势一致.该模型能较好地预测反应器下降管内的复杂流场.     

鼓泡床反应器流动特性的CFD研究进展

从计算模型和影响因素2个方面系统综述了鼓泡床反应器内气液两相流CFD的研究进展。介绍了与模型建立相关的多相流模型、湍流模型、相间作用力和气泡尺寸模型的选择和适用情况。总结了表观气速、液相性质、反应器尺寸、分布器和内构件等对反应器流动特性的影响。最后指出了目前存在的不足,并对其发展进行了展望。     

气升式环流反应器数值模拟研究进展

气升式环流反应器是一种结构简单,传质、传热效率高的多相反应器,反应器性能受物性参数和结构参数的影响,由于两相和三相流的复杂性,使得其在工业化设计放大和应用过程中存在困难。论述了气升式环流反应器内相间作用力类别和计算模型,对应用于气升式环流反应器模拟计算的简化模型、两相流模型和k-ε湍流模型进行总结,在分析现阶段气液两相流理论的基础上,明确反应器内不同流动形态下相间作用力、气泡的分散机理、气泡对湍流的影响、流动模拟模型的选取标准,能有效提高气升式环流反应器模拟的准确性及模型的普适性,为反应器的设计放大及传质模拟计算提供更加可靠的理论依据。     

喷射型环流反应器中气含率和液速的分布

喷射型环流反应器拥有良好的固体悬浮、液相混合与气液传质性能。在表观气速0.065-0.105 m?s-1的半间歇操作条件下,实验测量了喷射型环流反应器内的气含率以及液速的空间分布。在实验的基础上对反应器进行了三维瞬态的CFD模拟,并且用耦合群平衡模型(PBM)来模拟系统内气泡的聚并破碎行为。喷嘴的高速射流产生一定比例的大气泡驱动液体循环,使循环液速成倍增加。大气泡浮升过程中逐渐破碎成小气泡,导致提升管内的气含率随着轴向塔高增高而增大,降液管中也有类似的分布。实验和模拟都表明,喷射型环流反应器内由于喷嘴的使用导致了分布器影响区的明显延长,不存在流动充分发展的区域。     

基于EMMS模型的搅拌釜内气液两相流数值模拟

采用欧拉-欧拉模型对搅拌釜内气液两相流进行了三维CFD模拟,重点研究了采用不同曳力模型时CFD模拟对搅拌桨附近排出流区两相流动的预测能力。模拟结果表明CFD能准确地预测排出流区的液相速度分布,但采用传统的Schiller-Naumann曳力一定程度上低估了排出流区的气液相间曳力,导致在完全扩散区CFD预测的分布器和桨叶下方区域气含率偏小,而基于气液非均匀结构和能量最小多尺度（EMMS）方法得到的DBS-Global曳力模型能更准确地描述完全扩散区气液搅拌釜内流动情况。与传统曳力模型相比,采用DBS-Global曳力模型能显著提高对气含率的预测。     

基于EMMS模型的搅拌釜内气液两相流数值模拟

采用欧拉-欧拉模型对搅拌釜内气液两相流进行了三维CFD模拟,重点研究了采用不同曳力模型时CFD模拟对搅拌桨附近排出流区两相流动的预测能力。模拟结果表明CFD能准确地预测排出流区的液相速度分布,但采用传统的Schiller-Naumann曳力一定程度上低估了排出流区的气液相间曳力,导致在完全扩散区CFD预测的分布器和桨叶下方区域气含率偏小,而基于气液非均匀结构和能量最小多尺度(EMMS)方法得到的DBS-Global曳力模型能更准确地描述完全扩散区气液搅拌釜内流动情况。与传统曳力模型相比,采用DBS-Global曳力模型能显著提高对气含率的预测。     

新型气升式环流反应器流场数值模拟

利用CFD软件ANSYS 14.0及欧拉-欧拉多相流模型,模拟了一种采用微孔曝气器的新型气升式环流反应器的气液两相流动,得到反应器内气含率和循环液速等参数的详细分布。模拟结果表明：新型气升式环流反应器的平均气含率与气量成正比关系;气量为2.5 m3/h时具有更高的循环液速。     

CFD在自吸式加氢反应器流场研究中的应用

目前自吸式反应器广泛应用于二硝基甲苯加氢等多相流反应过程,但由于其内部流动十分复杂,单纯依靠实验很难得到全面准确的研究结果。为了解决这一问题,以自吸式加氢反应器为研究对象,运用计算流体力学(CFD)Fluent建立三维反应器模型,采用欧拉两相流方法,对空心叶轮自吸式反应器与双圆盘叶轮自吸式反应器内的气液两相流动特性进行了研究,将反应器内的流动可视化。在此基础上将空心叶轮反应器内的吸气特性与实验数据进行对比,验证建立的CFD模型,并对比两种反应器内的局部气含率分布与液相速度矢量图分布。结果表明:空心叶轮自吸式反应器吸气特性的模拟结果与实验结果吻合较好;对于单层桨叶自吸式加氢反应器,相同桨径的空心叶轮比双圆盘叶轮的吸气性能与气液分散性能更好。     

超声微反应器内气液传质过程的介尺度强化机制

采用CFD方法对超声微反应器内的Taylor气液两相流的传质过程进行了模拟。针对传质过程中主要的介尺度结构,包括气泡表面波、空化声流、液相内的局部浓度,分析了其空间分布和时间演化规律。模拟结果有效捕捉了实验难以观测的液膜区域,并将液膜厚度与气泡表面波振动进行了关联,阐释了气液界面附近的空化声流对传质过程的强化作用。根据超声微反应器内Taylor流的传质特点,分别研究了不同流动和超声条件对液弹内和液膜处传质过程的影响,比较了各局部传质对整体传质效率的贡献。通过分析整体/局部Sherwood数与Peclet数间的关系,研究了超声效应对气液传质速率的影响。分析结果从介尺度角度验证了文献关于超声微反应器传质系数的计算,完善了超声微反应器内气液传质过程的强化理论。     

曝气膜生物反应器的CFD模拟

利用Fluent软件对曝气膜生物反应器中气液两相流动进行模拟计算,探讨了进气气泡的直径、进气速度及膜纤维束的长度等因素对膜生物反应器内液体流动、气体分布的影响.结果表明,减小气泡的直径并适当增大进气速度、膜纤维束长度可以有效提高膜生物反应器内气体的分布和液体与气体的接触,从而促进气液两相进行高效的传质.     

多层新型桨搅拌槽内气-液两相流动的实验与数值模拟

对三层新型组合桨气-液两相搅拌槽内的流体流动进行了实验研究,并采用计算流体力学(CFD)的方法对气-液两相搅拌槽的通气搅拌功率、流场、局部气含率及总体气含率进行了数值模拟,数值模拟采用了欧拉-欧拉方法,数值模拟结果与实验值吻合良好,同时考察了通气流量和搅拌转速对通气搅拌功率和气含率的影响规律. 研究结果表明,欧拉-欧拉方法能较好地模拟搅拌槽内气-液两相流的流动状况.     

CFD simulation of mixing in tall gas-liquid stirred vessel: Role of local flow patterns

In this work, we have used the computational fluid dynamics (CFD)-based models to investigate the gas-liquid flows generated by three down-pumping pitched blade turbines. A two-fluid model along with the standard k-ε turbulence model was used to simulate the dispersed gas-liquid flow in a stirred vessel. Appropriate drag corrections to account for bulk turbulence [Khopkar and Ranade, 2005. CFD simulation of gas-liquid flow in a stirred vessel: VC, S33 and L33 flow regimes. A.I.Ch.E. Journal, accepted for publication] were developed to correctly simulate different flow regimes. The computational snapshot approach was used to simulate impeller rotation and was implemented in the commercial CFD code, FLUENT4.5 (of Fluent. Inc., USA). The computational model has successfully captured the flow regimes as observed during experiments. The particle trajectory simulations were then carried out to examine the influence of the different flow regimes on the circulation time distribution. The model predictions were verified by comparing the predicted results with the experimental data of [Shewale and Pandit, 2006. Studies in multiple impeller agitated gas-liquid contactors. Chemical Engineering Science 61, 489-504]. The computational model and results discussed in this study would be useful for explaining the implications local flow patterns on the mixing process and extending the applications of CFD models for simulating large multiphase stirred reactors.     

γ-CT measurement and CFD simulation of cross section gas holdup distribution in a gas–liquid stirred standard Rushton tank

Cross section gas holdup distributions at 3/4 dimensionless static liquid height in a gas–liquid stirred standard Rushton tank were measured using ¹³⁷Cs γ-CT scan measuring technology at larger gas flow rates and higher impeller rotating speeds. The obtained CT scan images and digital distribution curves of gas holdup with dimensionless radius based on the CT images could explain the fluctuation changes of gas holdup distribution. The dense area of gas holdup distribution appeared in the upper space of impeller blades. Gas holdup increased both with gas flow rate and impeller rotating speed, but gas flow rate had more influence on gas holdup than impeller rotating speed. The Eulerian–Eulerian two-fluid model coupling with the bubbles' coalescence and break-up models, and the drag coefficient model were established to make CFD simulation of gas holdup distributions for the gas–liquid stirred Rushton tank under different gas flow rates and impeller rotating speeds.     

机械搅拌流场中制备闭孔泡沫铝过程的数值模拟

描述了机械搅拌条件下应用吹气发泡法制备新型功能材料闭孔泡沫铝的过程. 在双流体模型基础上,引入多重参考系法预测水平轴机械搅拌池内的气液两相流动. 应用RNG k-e模型模拟湍流效应,考察了桨叶转速及孔口气速对流场特性和局部气含率的影响,进而应用体积积分的方法预测平均气含率. 计算结果表明,预测结果与文献中的实验数据定性一致.     

Experimental and numerical study of gas hold-up in surface aerated stirred tanks

Although the distribution of gas hold-up in stirred tanks is a key factor to their design and operation, systematic experimental data on local gas hold-up of surface-aerated stirred tanks are not available in open literature. In this work, turbulent two-phase flow in a surface aeration stirred tank with a diameter of 0.380 m was investigated experimentally and numerically. The gas hold-up was measured with a conductance probe at various operating conditions. A surface baffle to improve the efficiency of surface aeration of a Rushton disk turbine was designed and tested. The experimental data suggest that the gas hold-up distribution in the surface aeration tank is very non-uniform, and the surface baffle improves the aeration rate particularly at a high agitation speed. A three-dimensional in-house computational fluid dynamic (CFD) two-fluid model with the standard k?A_p turbulence model was used to predict the gas-liquid flow, and the impeller region was handled using the improved inner-outer iterative procedure. Based on Kolmogoroff's theory of isotropic turbulence, a constitutive equation for surface aeration strength was proposed. The numerical prediction, in combination with the measurements, gives insight to the surface aeration performance of stirred tanks. It was found that the simulation reasonably predicted the gas hold-up distribution in the upper tank, but underestimated it in the region below the stirrer.     

Influence of impeller diameter on overall gas dispersion properties in a sparged multi-impeller stirred tank☆

The impeller configuration with a six parabolic blade disk turbine below two down-pumping hydrofoil propellers, identified as PDT + 2CBY, was used in this study. The effect of the impeller diameter D, ranging from 0.30T to 0.40T (T as the tank diameter), on gas dispersion in a stirred tank of 0.48 m diameter was investigated by experimental and CFD simulation methods. Power consumption and total gas holdup were measured for the same impeller configuration PDT + 2CBY with four different D/T. Results show that with D/T increases from 0.30 to 0.40, the relative power demand (RPD) in a gas–liquid system decreases slightly. At low superficial gas velocity V_S of 0.0078 m·s^-1, the gas holdup increases evidently with the increase of D/T. However, at high superficial gas velocity, the systemwith D/T=0.33 gets a good balance between the gas recirculation and liquid shearing rate, which resulted in the highest gas holdup among four different D/T. CFD simulation based on the two-fluid model along with the Population Balance Model (PBM) was used to investigate the effect of impeller diameter on the gas dispersion. The power consumption and total gas holdup predicted by CFD simulation were in reasonable agreement with the experimental data.     

CFD simulation of liquid-phase mixing in solid-liquid stirred reactor

A comprehensive CFD model was developed to gain an insight into solid suspension and its implications on the liquid-phase mixing process in a solid-liquid stirred reactor. The turbulent solid-liquid flow in a stirred reactor was simulated using a two-fluid model with the standard k-ε turbulence model with mixture properties. The multiple reference frames (MRFs) approach was used to simulate impeller rotation in a fully baffled reactor. The computational model with necessary sub-models was mapped on to a commercial solver FLUENT 6.2 (of Fluent Inc., USA). The predicted solid concentration distribution was compared with the experimental data of Yamazaki et al. [1986. Concentration profiles of solids suspended in a stirred tank. Powder Technology 48, 205-216]. The computational model was then further extended to simulate and understand the implications of the suspension quality on liquid-phase mixing process. The computational model and the predicted results discussed here will be useful for understanding the liquid-phase mixing process in stirred slurry reactors in various stages of solid suspension.     

Experimental determination and numerical simulation of mixing time in a gas-liquid stirred tank

In this work, mixing experiments and numerical simulations of flow and macro-mixing were carried out in a 0.24 m i.d. gas-liquid stirred tank agitated by a Rushton turbine. The conductivity technique was used to measure the mixing time. A two-phase CFD (computational fluid dynamics) model was developed to calculate the flow field, k and ε distributions and holdup. Comparison between the predictions and the reported experimental data [Lu, W.M., Ju, S.J., 1987. Local gas holdup, mean liquid velocity and turbulence in an aerated stirred tank using hot-film anemometry. Chemical Engineering Journal 35 (1), 9-17] of flow field and holdup at same conditions were investigated and good agreements have been got. As the complexity of gas-liquid systems, there was still no report on the prediction of mixing time through CFD models in a gas-liquid stirred tank. In this paper, the two-phase CFD model was extended for the prediction of the mixing time in the gas-liquid stirred tank for the first time. The effects of operating parameters such as impeller speed, gas flow rate and feed position on the mixing time were compared. Good agreements between the simulations and experimental values of the mixing time have also been achieved.     

Study on gas-liquid flow characteristics in stirred tank with dual-impeller based on CFD-PBM coupled model

Study on gas-liquid flow in stirred tank with two combinations of dual-impeller (six-bent-bladed turbine(6BT)+six-inclined-blade down-pumping turbine (6ITD),the six-bent-bladed turbine (6BT)+six-inclined-blade up-pumping turbine (6ITU)) was conducted using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and popula-tion balance model (PBM) (CFD-PBM) coupled model.The local bubble size was captured by particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurement.The gas holdup,bubble size distribution and gas-liquid interfacial area were explored at different conditions through numerical simulation.The results showed that the 4 mm bubbles accounted for the largest proportion of 33％ at the gas flow rates Q =0.76 m3·h-1 and 22％ at Q =1.52 m3·h-1 for combined impeller of 6BT + 6ITU,while the bubbles of 4.7 mm and 5.5 mm were the largest proportion for 6BT + 6ITD combination,i.e.25％ at Q =0.76 m3·h-1 and 22％ at Q =1.52 m3·h-1,respectively,which indicated that 6BT + 6ITU could reduce bubble size effectively and promote gas dispersion.In addition,the gas holdup around impellers was increased obviously with the speed compared with gas flow rate.So it was concluded that 6ITU impeller could be more conductive to the bubble dispersion with more uniform bubble size,which embodied the advantages of 6BT + 6ITU combination in gas-liquid mixing.