Gas hold-up in aerated slugging columns

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2000

Authors

M. N. Coelho Pinheiro (Author) Other; Alexandra Pinto (Author) FEUP; João Campos (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Chemical Engineering Research and Design

Vol. 78 No. 8

Pages: 1139-1146

ISSN: 0263-8762

Publisher: Institute of Chemical Engineers

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 8 Citations

Scopus - 7 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Engineering and technology > Chemical engineering

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-000-YHQ

DOI: 10.1205/026387600528292

Abstract (EN): Gas hold-up is one of the most important parameters characterizing the hydrodynamics of bubble columns. A study is presented about the gas hold-up in gas-liquid slugging columns. Expansion of liquid columns is measured for a wide range of superficial velocities of bubbling gas, and the data are compared with available theory. The experiments were performed with liquids of different kinematic viscosities, in columns of 22 mm, 32 mm and 52 mm internal diameters and the initial liquid heights were greater than 2.5 m. A discussion is presented based on the effects of the flow pattern in the wakes of the Taylor bubbles and on coalescence of bubbles. When the flow regimes in the liquid and in the wake are both turbulent or both laminar, the theory predicts the gas hold-up. When the flow in the wake is turbulent and in the main liquid is laminar, the experimental gas hold-up is higher than predictions. This disagreement is explained by the shape of the liquid velocity profile emerging from the wake and by the long length, between bubbles, needed to restore the laminar profile in the liquid.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8