Mass transfer and hydrodynamic characteristics of gas inducing type of agitated contactors

Power consumption, rate of gas induction (Q), fractional gas hold-up and mass transfer characteristics of 0.41, 0.57 and 1.0 m i.d. gas inducing type of agitated contactors were studied. The power consumption was measured by a torque table. The values of effective interfacial area (a), and liquid side mass transfer coefficient (k_La) were obtained by using chemical methods. Two types of impellers (pipe and flattened cylindrical) were employed. The impeller speed was varied from 3 to 11.7 r/s. The effects of impeller diameter, baffle position, orifice area on the impeller, number of impeller blades, position of impeller from the bottom and liquid submergence on the values of Q and a were investigated. Further, the effect of liquid viscosity and surface tension on the values of Q was studied. A satisfactory agreement was found between the observed and the predicted value of the minimum impeller speed at which gas induction occurs. The performance of the gas inducing type of agitated contactor has been compared with the conventional mechanically agitated contactor.     

Gas-liquid mass transfer studies: The influence of single- and double-impeller configurations in stirred tanks

The influence of impeller structure on the mass transfer characteristics was studied with the steady-state method for gas-liquid volumetric mass transfer coefficient (k _L a). The single-impeller configurations included eight impeller types (three radial flow impellers, four axial flow impellers and one mixed flow impeller), and the doubleimpeller included three configurations (RT+RT, RT+WH _D , WH _D +WH _D ). For single-impeller, the gas-liquid mass transfer rates of radial flow impellers were better than those of axial flow impellers under the same rotation speed and gas flow rate. The mass transfer performance (defined as the volumetric mass transfer coefficient per unit power input) of radial flow impellers were also better than that of axial flow impellers. With the same kLa value under a certain gas flow rate, the local bubble size distribution between radial flow impeller and axial flow impeller was similar. As for double impellers, RT+RT provided the highest mass transfer rate under certain rotation speed and gas flow rate, while WH _D +WH _D gave the highest values of gas-liquid mass transfer coefficient with the same power consumption.     

Effects of floating contactors on oxygen transfer and hydrodynamics in a bubble column

This study investigates the adoption of floating contactors to promote the rate of oxygen transfer from non-uniform air bubbles to liquid in a bubble column with continuous operation. The volumetric oxygen transfer coefficient and axial dispersion coefficient of a liquid phase have been analyzed based on the axial dispersion model. Attention was focused on the effects of the volume fraction of the floating contactors on the volumetric oxygen transfer coefficient, axial dispersion coefficient of a liquid phase, and gas phase hold-up in the bubble column. The results have shown that the volumetric oxygen transfer coefficient and gas phase hold-up can increase by up to 25% and 13%, respectively, while the axial dispersion coefficient of a liquid phase decreases by up to 30% by adding floating contactors in the column.     

半弧面斜叶桨的流体力学性能与氧传质特性

氧传质系数是气液搅拌反应器设计的关键参数,研究新型搅拌桨的氧传质性能对气液两相搅拌反应器的强化有着重要的意义。本文实验研究了气体分布器、搅拌转速、气量对氧传质系数、搅拌功耗及气含率的影响,结果表明,氧传质系数随搅拌转速和气量的增加而增加;并建立了氧传质系数与搅拌功耗和表观气速的经验公式,为进一步放大应用提供了基础。采用欧拉-欧拉多相流模型及群体平衡模型对半弧面新型斜叶桨进行了计算流体力学（CFD）数值模拟研究,模拟研究了不同结构、搅拌转速、气量下的流体力学性能和氧传质系数,模拟计算结果与实验值的相对偏差在20%以内;这为研究这一半弧面新型斜叶桨提供了一种可靠的数值模拟方法;优化了半弧面新型斜叶桨的结构,提高了搅拌釜的氧传质效率。     

GAS-LIQUID MASS TRANSFER CHARACTERISTICS OF LARGE-SCALE IMPELLERS: EMPIRICAL CORRELATIONS OF GAS HOLDUPS AND VOLUMETRIC MASS TRANSFER COEFFICIENTS IN STIRRED TANKS

Gas dispersion with large-scale impellers consisting of modified large paddle impellers in stirred tanks, with rather large ratios of both impeller diameter and impeller height to tank diameter, was experimentally examined in transition and turbulent mixing ranges. Gas holdups and volumetric gas-liquid mass transfer coefficients with large-scale impellers, i.e., Maxblend and Fullzone impellers, were measured in 0.31 and 0.6 m I.D. stirred tanks, and the gas dispersion performance of large-scale impellers was compared with that of double conventional small-scale high-speed impeller systems, i.e., double four-flat blade disk turbine impellers and double four-flat paddle impellers.

The gas holdups of the large-scale impellers were comparable with those of the small-scale impeller systems at a given rotational speed. The volumetric gas-liquid mass transfer coefficients for large-scale impellers were also similar to those of the small-scale impeller systems. It was found that the large-scale impellers are not more energy efficient than the small-scale impellers in obtaining good gas dispersion.

Empirical correlations for gas holdups and volumetric gas-liquid mass transfer coefficients were developed. They fit the experimental data in transition and turbulent mixing ranges reasonably well, with correlation factors greater than 0.84.     

GAS-LIQUID MASS TRANSFER CHARACTERISTICS OF LARGE-SCALE IMPELLERS: EMPIRICAL CORRELATIONS OF GAS HOLDUPS AND VOLUMETRIC MASS TRANSFER COEFFICIENTS IN STIRRED TANKS

Gas dispersion with large-scale impellers consisting of modified large paddle impellers in stirred tanks, with rather large ratios of both impeller diameter and impeller height to tank diameter, was experimentally examined in transition and turbulent mixing ranges. Gas holdups and volumetric gas-liquid mass transfer coefficients with large-scale impellers, i.e., Maxblend and Fullzone impellers, were measured in 0.31 and 0.6 m I.D. stirred tanks, and the gas dispersion performance of large-scale impellers was compared with that of double conventional small-scale high-speed impeller systems, i.e., double four-flat blade disk turbine impellers and double four-flat paddle impellers.

The gas holdups of the large-scale impellers were comparable with those of the small-scale impeller systems at a given rotational speed. The volumetric gas-liquid mass transfer coefficients for large-scale impellers were also similar to those of the small-scale impeller systems. It was found that the large-scale impellers are not more energy efficient than the small-scale impellers in obtaining good gas dispersion.

Empirical correlations for gas holdups and volumetric gas-liquid mass transfer coefficients were developed. They fit the experimental data in transition and turbulent mixing ranges reasonably well, with correlation factors greater than 0.84.     

卧式搅拌釜气液传质特性的研究(Ⅱ)

分别在纯水-O_2、乳化剂水溶液-O_2两个体系中,实测了卧式釜中长径比、桨径釜径比、液含率、搅拌桨个数、叶片数及操作条件对气液传质容量系数K_(La)的影响,关联了低Fr数区的实验结果;提出了以K_La为目标函数的放大准则:在几何相似条件下,保持Fr=const.,或P_v=const..     

有无静态混合器时的机械搅拌气升式环流反应器传递特性研究

The mechanically stirred internal loop airlift reactors equipped with or without static mixers are devised for intensification of gas-liquid mass transfer rate. The influences of superficial gas velocity, agitation or static mixers on gas hold-up, mixing time, liquid circulating velocity and volumetric mass transfer coefficient have been investigated with tap water and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) aqueous solution. The experimental results indicate that mechanical agitation is more efficacious than static mixer in highly viscous media for improving mass transfer in airlift reactors. The empirical correlation of volumetric mass transfer coefficient with apparent viscosity, and energy consumption for mechanical agitation and aeration is developed.     

搅拌反应器内三种桨型的气、液分散与相际传质特性研究

本文以改进搅拌发酵罐的桨型为目的,对空气-水、空气-亚硫酸钠溶液系统就六平叶、弯叶、箭叶三种圆盘透平桨产生的气泡平均直径、气含率及容量传质系数的变化规律作了较为系统的研究。实验发现:相同单位体积功率、表观气速条件下,三种桨型各自产生的气泡平均直径相差不大;箭叶桨的气含率较低;六平叶圆盘透平桨具有最大的容量传质系数。     

Hydrodynamics and mass transfer in an upward venturi/bubble column combination

The hydrodynamics and mass transfer characteristics of a venturi/bubble column combination were studied at high liquid superficial velocities of up to 0.35 m/s. The gas hold-up was increased by 50% to 150% and the overall volumetric mass transfer coefficient was tripled when the venturi was used as “gas distributor” instead of a porous distributor. A correlation of the overall volumetric mass transfer coefficient (K_La) with the gas hold-up, valid for gas hold-ups as high as 0.3, was proposed for the cylindrical bubble column section. The energy consumption per mole of oxygen transferred was lower than with most distributors and the oxygen transfer rate per unit of reactor volume was higher than in a bubble column with a porous distributor. The venturi/bubble column combination is a compact and efficient system which does not have the operating problems of systems which require internals.     

Effects of surface active agents on hydrodynamics and mass transfer characteristics in a split-cylinder airlift bioreactor with packed bed

The effects of three types of surface active agents (containing SDS, HCTBr and Tween 40) with various concentrations (0–5 ppm) on the hydrodynamic and oxygen mass transfer characteristics in a split-cylinder airlift bioreactor with and without packing were investigated. It was observed that in the surfactant solutions, surface tension of the liquid decreased and smaller bubbles were produced in comparison with pure water. So, surfactants presence strongly enhanced mixing time and gas hold-up although oxygen mass transfer coefficient and the liquid circulation velocity reduced. Furthermore, the packing installation enhanced the overall gas–liquid volumetric mass transfer coefficient by increasing flow turbulency and Reynolds number compared to an unpacked column. The packing increased gas hold-up and decreased bubbles size and liquid circulation velocity.     

STUDY OF DOWNFLOW LIQUID JET LOOP REACTOR

1 INTRODUCTIONLiquid jet loop reactor(JLR)may be upflow(U-JLR)or downflow reactors(D-JLR)in design.The major differences between the two are the location of the nozzle andthe direction of the fluid flow.A large number of investigations on U-JLR havebeen published,but D-JLR with nozzles positioned on the top portion of the reac-tor was not much studied until recently.Up to now,only a few experimentalstudies on the hydrodynamics and mass transfer of D-JLR have been carried out[1-4].     

鼓泡反应器中幂律型流体流动与传质特性

很多废水处理装置涉及非牛顿型流体中的多相流动和传质问题,研究其中的气液传质过程有助于实现装置的优化设计和高效节能运行。以鼓泡反应器内清水和不同质量分数的羧甲基纤维素钠（CMC）水溶液为实验对象,分别研究气相表观气速和液相流变特性对气泡尺寸分布、全局气含率和体积氧传质系数的影响。实验结果表明,液相的流变特性对其传质特性参数均有较大影响。与清水相比,CMC水溶液中气泡平均直径和分布范围更大;清水和CMC水溶液的全局气含率均随表观气速的增加而增大;CMC水溶液的体积氧传质系数随CMC水溶液质量分数的增加而减小。基于实验研究,得出修正的体积氧传质系数公式和适用于幂律型非牛顿流体流动体系氧传递过程的无量纲关联式,可很好地实现非牛顿流体流动的废水处理装置中气液传质参数的计算。     

CFD在自吸反应器气液流动和传质特性研究中的应用

针对配置气体分布器的六叶轮自吸反应器建立了欧拉气液两相流三维瞬态模型,耦合Higbie气液传质模型,采用CFX软件对其气液混合过程的流场、气含率、吸气速率及溶氧传递过程进行数值模拟,获得了反应器的流动特性、气液分散性能、吸气特性及气液传质特性.分析了反应器内水平及竖直位置上的流型特征及溶氧传递性能,结合实验数据及经验关联式对比分析了对气含率及吸气速率的预测作用.结果表明,六叶轮转子及其配置的气体分布器可以获得较均匀的气液混合,气含率及吸气速率的预测与实验值偏差分别为5.2% 和17.6%,模拟发现在反应器底部近壁处溶氧及混合效果不佳.     

Gas hold-up and volumetric mass transfer coefficient in bubble columns under foam control

Experimental measurements of the gas hold-up and volumetric mass transfer coefficient have been made for baffle columns (BCs) reacting various foaming liquids under mechanical and chemical foam control. The gas hold-up and the volumetric mass transfer coefficient in a mechanical foam-control system (BCs with rating-disk mechanical foam-breakers) were larger than those in a chemical foam-control system (BCs with an antifoam agent added). Correlations for the gas hold-up and the volumetric mass transfer coefficient in BCs under foam control are presented. Comparison of the volumetric mass transfer coefficient between the mechanical foam-control system and the chemical foam-control system in terms of the specific power input also demonstrated higher mass transfer performance and saving power requirements for the mechanical foam-control system.     

Gas-liquid mass transfer in bubble columns with a T-junction nozzle for gas dispersion

Bubble break-up, gas holdup, and the gas-liquid volumetric mass transfer coefficient are studied in a bubble column reactor with simultaneous injection of a gas and liquid through a T-junction nozzle. The theoretical dependence of bubble break-up and the volumetric mass transfer coefficient on liquid velocity in the nozzle is developed on the basis of isotropic turbulence theory. It is shown that correlations which are developed based on liquid jet kinetic power per nozzle volume explain average gas holdup and the volumetric mass transfer coefficient within an error of 15% for all gas and liquid flow rates and nozzle diameters used. Experiments with a larger scale column, height 4.64 m and diameter 0.98 m, show a transition from homogeneous to heterogeneous flow at a certain liquid flow rate through the nozzle. Liquid composition was found to have a significant effect on gas-liquid mass transfer. A phenol concentration of 10–30 mg/l in water increases the volumetric mass transfer coefficient of oxygen by 100%. This phenomenon may have significance in the chemical oxidation of wastewater.     

Numerical evaluation of mass transfer coefficient in stirred tank reactors with non-Newtonian fluid

In fermentation processes, a constant supply of oxygen is fundamental for cell growth. The supply rate is controlled by the volumetric mass transfer coefficient. The literature reports few numerical studies evaluating the volumetric mass transfer coefficient for aerated systems with non-Newtonian fluids in stirred tanks. The aim of this work was to undertake a numerical study of the main hydrodynamic and mass transfer parameters, including average gas hold-up, and power number. Xanthan gum solutions were used to simulated. The simulations were performed with different impeller rotational speeds (600 to 1000 revolution per minute) and specific gas flow rates (0.4 to 1.2 volume of gas per volume of liquid per minute), adopting an Euler-Euler approach and assuming uniform spherical bubbles. The turbulence was simulated with k?ε turbulence model and sst shear stress transport turbulent model. The numerical results were compared with experimental values available in the literature. The results showed good agreement between the numerical and experimental values of gas hold-up, power number, and volumetric mass transfer coefficient. The sst shear stress transport turbulence model provided better results, compared to the standard k?ε model, for simulation of volumetric mass transfer coefficient in a non-Newtonian fluid under the conditions used. Simulations for uniform bubbles with 3 millimeters diameter gave mass transfer coefficient values that were close to the experimental data.     

搅拌槽内中高黏物系的气液分散特性研究进展

从实验和数值模拟两方面对搅拌槽内中高黏物系条件下的气含率、气泡尺寸大小和传质特性等进行综述。讨论了搅拌桨型、操作条件、黏度或非牛顿性对气液分散特性的影响。阐明了径流式搅拌桨和上翻式轴流桨的组合能减小气穴,更适合中低黏物系的搅拌;搅拌转速比通气量的影响效果更明显,转速增加使气泡的分布均匀性变好,而提高通气速度会产生大气泡,使气泡分布不均匀程度增加;黏度或非牛顿性的增加可以改变气泡的碰撞频率,气泡平均尺寸减小。最后讨论了针对中高黏物系的计算流体力学模型的修正方法,并且展望了此领域的研究发展方向。     

Hydrodynamics and mass transfer behavior in multiple draft tube airlift contactors

The draft tube configuration significantly affected the performance of an airlift contactor. The multiple draft tube configuration was demonstrated to give a better gas-liquid mass transfer when compared with a conventional one-draft-tube system. The airlift with a larger number of draft tubes allowed a higher level of bubble entrainment, which rendered a high downcomer gas holdup. This resulted in a higher overall gas holdup in the contactor. Liquid velocity was also enhanced by increasing the number of draft tubes. The ratio between downcomer and riser cross sectional areas, A _d /A _r , had a great effect on the system performance, where a larger A _d /A _r led to a lower downcomer liquid velocity and smaller quantity of gas bubbles being dragged into the downcomer. This resulted in low gas holdup, and consequently, low gas-liquid interfacial mass transfer area, which led to a reduction in the overall volumetric mass transfer coefficient. The presence of salinity in the system drastically reduced the bubble size and subsequently led to an enhancement of gas entrainment within the system. As a result, higher gas holdups and gas-liquid interfacial area were observed, and hence, a higher rate of gas-liquid mass transfer was obtained.     

Flow and mass transfer in aerated viscous Newtonian liquids in an unbaffled agitated vessel having alternating forward–reverse rotating impellers

Flow and mass transfer characteristics in aerated viscous Newtonian liquids were studied for an unbaffled aerated agitated vessel with alternating rotating impellers (AAVAI), ie with multiple forward–reverse rotating impellers having four delta blades. The effects of operating conditions such as gas sparging rate, agitation rate and the number of impeller stages, and the liquid physical properties (viscosity) on the gas hold‐up, ?_gD, and volumetric oxygen transfer coefficient, k_La_D were evaluated experimentally. The dependences of ?_gD and k_La_D on the specific total power input and superficial gas velocity differed, depending on the ranges of liquid viscosity. Empirical relationships are presented for each viscosity range to predict ?_gD and k_La_D as a function of the specific total power input, superficial gas velocity and viscosity of liquid. Based on a comparative investigation of the volumetric coefficient in terms of the specific total power input between the AAVAI and conventional aerated agitated vessels (CAAVs) having unidirectionally rotating impellers, the usefulness of AAVAI as a gas–liquid agitator treating viscous Newtonian liquids is also discussed. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry