ITEMS

modern scholarly publishers in the finest tradition

Journals

	Search

Multiphase Science and Technology

A Quarterly

ISSN for PRINT: 0276-1459

Institutional price:	$694.00
Issues per year:	4

Best Paper Award Selection - Editorial Board Site

2005, Volume17

190 pages

DOI: 10.1615/MultScienTechn.v17.i1-2

Issue price - $280.00

NUMERICAL ANALYSIS AND EXPERIMENTAL VALIDATION OF BUBBLE SIZE DISTRIBUTIONS IN TWO-PHASE BUBBLE COLUMN REACTORS

F. Bertola
Dept. of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, C.soDuca degli, Abruzzi, 24,10129 Torino

J. Grundseth
Dept. of Chemical Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Sem Sælands vei 4, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway

L. Hagesaether

C. Dorao
Dept. of Chemical Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Sem Sælands vei 4, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway

H. Luo

K. W. Hjarbo

H. F. Svendsen
Dept. of Chemical Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Sem Sælands vei 4, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway

M. Vanni
Dept. of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, C.soDuca degli, Abruzzi, 24,10129 Torino

G. Baldi
Dept. of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, C.soDuca degli, Abruzzi, 24,10129 Torino

H. A. Jakobsen
Dept. of Chemical Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Sem Sælands vei 4, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway

ABSTRACT

This paper focuses on the inclusion of a population balance module into a 2D two-phase flow model. An in- house CFD code has been developed adopting a dynamic mixture model for the characterization of the flow pattern in the column. The turbulence closure adopted is in accordance with the work of Lopez de Bertodano [30]. Two concepts are used, one for the liquid shear induced turbulence and a second one for the bubble induced turbulence. The turbulence production due to the gas jets at the inlet zone, determined by the bubbles leaving the holes in the distributor plate and retarding until they reach their terminal velocity, is also accounted for in accordance with the work of Grevskott [33].
The main objective of this study is to validate the combined CFD-population balance model including appropriate closures both for the momentum transfer-, turbulence-, and the coalescence and break-up phenomena. The population model including six bubble size classes is validated with experimental data obtained in our own laboratory for the radial bubble size and volume fraction distributions at two axial levels in the column. The flow model has been validated against experimental data on the radial velocity profiles for both phases at several axial levels.