Bubble mechanisms and characteristics at pore scale in a packed-bed reactor

An image processing technique was used to study dominant bubble mechanisms in a two-dimensional packed-bed at pore level under the bubbly flow regime. Bubble breakup and coalescence were identified as dominant mechanisms using a large number of image samples. Two types of coalescence mechanisms were identified that occur due to compression and deceleration associated with the bubbles and three breakup mechanisms were identified that are result of liquid shear force, bubble acceleration, and bubble impact. Data on various two-phase parameters, such as local void fraction, bubble velocity, size, number, and shape were obtained from the images. Results indicated that when a flow regime changed from bubbly to either trickling or pulsing flow, the number of average sized bubbles significantly decreased and the shape of the majority of the bubbles was no longer spherical. Although a mean bubble velocity of all sized bubbles was uniform for given gas and liquid superficial velocities, individual bubble velocities were quite different depending on the bubble location in the pore. The present bubble size distributions were compared with previous studies and the results on bubble size are in general agreement.     

Hydrodynamics and steel tube wastage in a fluidized bed at elevated temperature

Hydrodynamic measurements were made in a bubbling fluidized bed operated at 550°C at three different excess gas velocities (0.15, 0.40 and ). The bed has a cross-sectional area of with an immersed tube bank consisting of 59 horizontal stainless steel tubes (AISI 304L), 21 of which are exchangeable, thus allowing erosion studies. Capacitance probe analysis was used to determine the mean bubble rise velocity, the mean bubble frequency, the mean pierced bubble length, the mean bubble volume fraction and the mean visible bubble flow rate. Tube wastage was calculated from roundness profiles obtained by stylus profilometry.A redistribution of the bubble flow towards the center of the bed occurs when the excess gas velocity is increased. Measurements along a target tube, situated next to the capacitance probe, usually show greater material wastage at the central part of the tube, since the mean bubble rise velocity and the mean visible bubble flow rate are higher there. It is suggested that the greater material degradation is also an effect of the through-flow of a particle-transporting gas stream in the bubbles. With increasing height above the distributor plate the circumferential wastage profiles for the lowest excess gas velocity show a gradual change from an erosion pattern with one maximum (Type B behavior) to a pattern with two maxima (Type A behavior). Power spectral density distributions of the fluctuating pressure signals show that this is a result of the formation of larger bubbles, when the fluidization regime is changed in the upper part of the bed. At the highest excess gas velocity the bubble flow becomes more constrained due to a more rapid coalescence of the bubbles and the tubes show Type A wastage profiles throughout the bed.     

Testing of a spherical dual-tipped optical fiber probe for local measurements of void fraction and gas velocity in two-phase flows

An alternate and easy method of constructing an optical liber probe tip is presented for the study of different two-phase flow variables such as local time-averaged void fraction, gas velocity and interfacial bubble passage frequency. The proposed probe tip has similar response characteristics to the “U-bend” single fiber probe and is easier to construct than the 90° wedge tipped probe. The signal from the spherical tip seems to be insensitive to changes in bubble velocity as opposed to the 90° wedge and is more advantageous at higher velocities. The signal from the spherical tip has the same time duration as the signal changes from liquid to gas and vice versa for the same bubble velocity. A simplified model is presented to describe the balance of forces around the spherical tip when a bubble is penetrated. The model offers a qualitative explanation of why the non-dimensional response intensity decreases as the bubble velocity increases.     

The measurement of bubble properties in two-phase dispersions—III: Bubble properties in a freely bubbling fluidised-bed

An improved electroresistivity probe has been used in a freely bubbling gas-fluidised bed of carbon particles to give the distributions of velocity and size of bubbles therein. Bubble properties agree with previous observations but the significant influence of macro-circulation patterns on bubble velocities has been revealed.     

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.     

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.     

Interaction between bubbles and fibre optic probes in a bubble column

Spherical bulb fibre optic probes, developed and applied for bubble characterization in a bubble column and a slurry bubble column at high temperature, were investigated. The principle of operation of these new optical fibre probes is based on the difference in refractive indices between the gas and the liquid phases. The interaction between the gas bubbles and the fibre optic probes in a bubble column was studied using photographic techniques. The first objective of these experiments was to study the response of the sensors upon contact with gas bubbles of various sizes. The second objective of this study was to establish, under controlled situations, the optical probe bubble detection performance and ability for local quantitative measurements of the bubble rise velocity and the gas hold-up.     

Use of models for lift, wall and turbulent dispersion forces acting on bubbles for poly-disperse flows

Closure laws are needed for the qualification of CFD codes for two-phase flows. In case of bubbly and slug flow, forces acting on the bubbles usually model the momentum transfer between the phases. Several models for such forces can be found in Literature. They show, that these forces depend on the liquid flow field as well as on the size and the shape of the bubbles. A validation of consistent sets of bubble force models for poly-disperse flows is given, basing on a detailed experimental database for vertical pipe flows, which contains data on the radial distribution of bubbles of different size as well as local bubble size distributions. A one-dimensional (1D) solver provides velocity profiles and bubble distributions in radial direction. It considers a large number of bubble size classes and is used for the comparison with the experiments. The simplified model was checked against the results of full 3D simulations done by the commercial code CFX-5.7 for simplified monodisperse cases. The effects of the number of bubbles classes as well as the effect of the lateral extension of the bubbles were analyzed. For the validation of bubble force models measured bubble size distributions were taken as an input for the calculation. On basis of the assumption of an equilibrium of the lateral bubble forces, radial volume fraction profiles were calculated separately for each bubble class. In the result of the validation of different models for the bubble forces, a set of Tomiyama lift and wall force, deformation force and Favre averaged turbulent dispersion force was found to provide the best agreement with the experimental data. Some discrepancies remain at high liquid superficial velocities.     

Experimental Study on Bubble Rising and Descending Velocity Distribution in a Slurry Bubble Column Reactor

To determine bubble rising and descending velocity simultaneously, a BVW‐2 four‐channel conductivity probe bubble parameters apparatus and its analysis are used in gas‐liquid and gas‐liquid‐solid bubble columns. The column is 100 mm in internal diameter and 1500 mm in height. The solid particles used are glass beads with an average diameter of 17.82 μm, representing typical particle size for catalytic slurry reactors. The effects of superficial gas velocity (1.0 cm/s ≤ U_g ≤ 6.4 cm/s), solid holdup (0 % ≤ ?_s ≤ 30 %), and radial location (r/R = 0, 0.4, and 0.7) on bubble velocity distributions are determined. It is found that increasing U_g can increase the velocity of bubbles but do not exert much influence on bubble velocity distribution. Solid holdup mainly affects the distribution of bubble velocity while the radial direction affects bubble velocity distribution only slightly. The ratio of descending bubbles to rising bubbles increases from the bubble column center to the wall. It can be proved experimentally that large bubbles do not always rise faster than small bubbles at higher U_g (for example 6.4 cm/s).     

湍动浆态床流体力学研究（Ⅲ）垂直列管内构件的影响

浆态床反应器内部往往安装有密集的竖直列管换热内构件,有关列管束对流场分布的影响还少有研究。本文在Φ500 mm×5000 mm的大型冷模实验装置中测定了安装不同密度列管束时的速度分布和气含率分布。实验表明,列管的存在一方面会显著提高浆料轴向速度,促进大尺度流体循环,另一方面也抑制了液体与气泡的径向湍动,使速度和气含率的径向分布更不均匀,造成液体与气体轴向返混加剧,增大了有列管束的浆态床反应器的放大风险。在低气速湍动鼓泡条件下,列管加入造成的“烟囱效应”将更为显著。     

Studies on hydrodynamics of turbulent slurry bubble column（Ⅲ）Effect of vertical pipe bundles

浆态床反应器内部往往安装有密集的竖直列管换热内构件,有关列管束对流场分布的影响还少有研究。本文在Φ500 mm×5000 mm的大型冷模实验装置中测定了安装不同密度列管束时的速度分布和气含率分布。实验表明,列管的存在一方面会显著提高浆料轴向速度,促进大尺度流体循环,另一方面也抑制了液体与气泡的径向湍动,使速度和气含率的径向分布更不均匀,造成液体与气体轴向返混加剧,增大了有列管束的浆态床反应器的放大风险。在低气速湍动鼓泡条件下,列管加入造成的“烟囱效应”将更为显著。     

Hydrodynamik in Blasensäulen – Messung von relativem Gasgehalt und Blasengröße

In bubble column reactors mass transfer kinetics are determined by local hydrodynamic processes (bubble formation, velocity, coalescence, break‐up, etc.). For a better understanding of the influence of pressure and particle load on these processes, a measurement system for detection of local bubble size distributions in opaque bubbly flows is needed. Therefore, in this work an optical needle probe was applied in a bubbly flow. In a first step, the needle probe was validated by means of single‐bubble measurements. The measurement technique shows high potential for application in more complex and opaque systems.     

CFD simulation of bubble columns incorporating population balance modeling

A computational fluid dynamics (CFD)-code has been developed using finite volume method in Eulerian framework for the simulation of axisymmetric steady state flows in bubble columns. The population balance equation for bubble number density has been included in the CFD code. The fixed pivot method of Kumar and Ramkrishna [1996. On the solution of population balance equations by discretization—I. A fixed pivot technique. Chemical Engineering Science 51, 1311-1332] has been used to discretize the population balance equation. The turbulence in the liquid phase has been modeled by a k-ε model. The novel feature of the framework is that it includes the size-specific bubble velocities obtained by assuming mechanical equilibrium for each bubble and hence it is a generalized multi-fluid model. With appropriate closures for the drag and lift forces, it allows for different velocities for bubbles of different sizes and hence the proper spatial distributions of bubbles are predicted. Accordingly the proper distributions of gas hold-up, liquid circulation velocities and turbulence intensities in the column are predicted. A survey of the literature shows that the algebraic manipulations of either bubble coalescence or break-up rate were mainly guided by the need to obtain the equilibrium bubble size distributions in the column. The model of Prince and Blanch [1990. Bubble coalescence and break-up in air-sparged bubble columns. A.I.Ch.E. Journal 36, 1485-1499] is known to overpredict the bubble collision frequencies in bubble columns. It has been modified to incorporate the effect of gas phase dispersion number. The predictions of the model are in good agreement with the experimental data of Bhole et al. [2006. Laser Doppler anemometer measurements in bubble column: effect of sparger. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 45, 9201-9207] obtained using Laser Doppler anemometry. Comparison of simulation results with the experimental measurements of Sanyal et al. [1999. Numerical simulation of gas-liquid dynamics in cylindrical bubble column reactors. Chemical Engineering Science 54, 5071-5083] and Olmos et al. [2001. Numerical simulation of multiphase flow in bubble column reactors: influence of bubble coalescence and breakup. Chemical Engineering Science 56, 6359-6365] also show a good agreement for liquid velocity and gas hold-up profiles.     

Buoyancy-driven motion of bubbles in square channels

The motion of air bubbles in square capillaries moving under the influence of gravity is studied over a range of Reynolds numbers. The steady shapes and velocities of the bubbles as a function of the bubble size are determined experimentally at moderate Bond and capillary numbers. Bubbles are nearly spherical at lower bubble volumes and become prolate losing their fore and aft symmetry at larger bubble volumes. At higher Weber numbers, a reentrant cavity develops at the rear of bubble. The critical Weber number at which this shape transition occurs lies between 0.89 and 1.38. At small Weber numbers, the terminal velocity of bubbles increases monotonically with bubble volume and eventually reaches a plateau value, which is independent of the bubble size. At higher Weber numbers, a maxima develops in the velocity-volume curve at moderate bubble sizes which grows in magnitude as the Weber number increases. Even at small bubble volumes with nearly spherical shape, the terminal velocity of the bubbles is less than the Hadamard-Rybczynski velocity due to the wall drag. The speed and the maximum bubble width for air bubbles rising in a square channel is higher than that of an air bubble rising in a circular channel with the same hydraulic diameter. The experimental data compares well with predicted trends in the viscous and inertial limits for long bubbles.     

PX氧化鼓泡塔反应器流动规律的研究

采用改进的Pavlov管测定鼓泡塔中的液相局部流速,采用电导探针方法测定气含率分布,测定了3种塔径（D200mm,D500mm,D800mm）、不同空塔气速下的流速三维分布和气含率分布。     

Theoretische Berechnung des Stofftransports in der Umgebung einer Einzelblase

Mass transfer between a spherical bubble and a surrounding fluid has been investigated theoretically. Stationary transfer and constant diameters were assumed. The local concentration around a single bubble as well as local and mean Sherwood numbers were calculated. The velocity distributions were determined in an earlier investigation by numerical solution of the Navier—Stokes equation.The mean Sherwood number for bubbles of constant shape were proved to be a function of two dimensionsless numbers: the Schmidt- number Sc and the product Re Sc of Reynolds and Schmidt-number. Curves fitting the calculated values are lying between two limiting curves. The lower curve is valid for the limiting condition Re → 0 and Sc → ∞ while the upper curve is valid for Re → ∞ and Sc → 0.For bubbles of varying shape the Sherwood number will not follow the upper boundary but will increase considerably beyond this limit. Analysis of the mechanism of mass transfer indicates that this behavior results from periodic and aperiodic deformations of the bubble.     

Non-intrusive determination of bubble size in a gas–solid fluidized bed: An evaluation

Bubble sizes measured in a column of diameter 290 mm with FCC particles utilizing both an intrusive optical probe and non-intrusive pressure analysis are compared. The pressure signals were decoupled by differential pressure analysis and incoherence analysis. It is shown that pressure fluctuations induced by jetting/bubble formation can be effectively filtered out by differential pressure and incoherence analysis. The differential pressure signals measured across a vertical interval less than half the maximum bubble size unreasonably damps the power spectral density intensity, leading to underestimation of bubble size and overestimation of mean frequency. In the present work, the incoherence analysis tends to estimate greater bubble size than differential pressure analysis. Bubble chord lengths are overestimated by optical probe signals because small bubbles are not detected. Bubble sizes calculated by the equation of Horio and Nonaka (1987) agree reasonably well with that estimated by incoherence analysis at relatively high superficial gas velocities.     

Bubble swarm behaviour and gas absorption in non-newtonian fluids in sparged columns

Mean relative gas hold up, slip velocity, bubble size distribution, and volumetric mass transfer coefficient of oxygen were measured in sparged columns of highly viscous non-Newtonian fluids (CMC solutions) as a function of the gas flow rate, and CMC concentration (fluid consistency index k, and flow behaviour index n).By comparison of the measured bubble swarm velocities with those calculated by relations for single bubbles the bubble swarm behaviour was investigated. It could be shown that small bubbles in swarm have higher rising velocities than single bubbles, expecially in highly viscous media. Large single bubbles rise with high velocity due to the change of their shape caused by the swarm of the smaller bubbles. No large bubbles with spherical cap shape could be observed. The volumetric mass transfer coefficient decreases rapidly with increasing CMC-concentration.A comparison of the volumetric mass transfer coefficients with those measured in mechanically agitated vessels indicates, that the performance of sparged columns is comparable with the one of agitated vessels. Because of their lower energy requirement sparged columns are more economical than mechanically agitated vessels. It is possible to improve the performance of sparged columns by the redispersion of large bubbles in a multistage equipment.     

Initial particle velocity spatial distribution from 2-D erupting bubbles in fluidized beds

Some results on particle image velocimetry (PIV) in 2-D freely bubbling fluidized beds are presented. The PIV applications were used in order to determine the initial particle velocity of bubble eruptions. A two-dimensional non-reacting fluidized bed was constructed to measure the origin of the ejected particles and the initial particle velocity distribution, using coarse sand particles. The bubble ejection mechanism was observed taking into account the origin of particles ejected, the initial particle velocity distributions as well as the effect of other neighbor exploding bubbles. Our results show that the assumption of linear dependence of initial velocity with the angle predicts the velocity faithfully only for purely vertical-ascent bubbles. Measurements of ejection velocities show that initial velocities in the combined layer are higher than those of the particles in the nose of the leading bubble. Avoiding coalescence of bubbles at the bed surface can lead to less particle entrainment out of the bed and consequently to shorter fluidized beds.     

Simultaneous measurement of hold-up profiles and interfacial area using LDA in bubble columns: predictions by multiresolution analysis and comparison with experiments

A wavelet-based technique was used for the identification of bubble events from the velocity-time data obtained using LDA in bubble column reactors. Bubble rise velocity distribution was also measured from the velocity-time series, which enabled the estimation of bubble size and shape distributions. From this information, the values of local fractional gas hold-up (ε_G) and effective interfacial area (a̱) were calculated. The estimated values of a̱ have been compared with those obtained from the chemical method of air-oxidation of sodium sulfite. For this purpose, LDA measurements were carried out during the reaction of sulfite oxidation.