A fluid dynamic model for three-phase airlift reactors

✍ Scribed by E. Garcı́a-Calvo; A. Rodrı́guez; A. Prados; J. Klein

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1999
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 230 KB
• Volume: 54
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0009-2509
• DOI: 10.1016/s0009-2509(98)00302-9

✦ Synopsis

A simple model for the description of #ow behavior in three phase (solid}liquid}gas) airlift reactors (TPAL) was developed. Based on an energy balance, which takes into account the dissipation of energy in the phase interfaces, the model predicts liquid and solid circulation velocities, gas holdup and solid distribution within the reactor. It describes the three #ow modes in relation to the solid behavior as the gas #ow increases, namely, packed, #uidized and circulating beds and establishes the boundary conditions between the #ow modes with accuracy. The hysteresis e!ect widely described in literature is also predicted, the initial solid holdup distribution ( Q ) is the main parameter to describe this e!ect. Experimental data obtained by various authors for reactors of di!erent shape (internal or external loops) and size (from 0.020 to 284 m), di!erent solid particles (sizes from 0.1 to 3 mm and solid densities from 2550 to 3700 kg/m) and di!erent experimental conditions are simulated satisfactorily.