Numerical simulations of gas-liquid dynamics in cylindrical bubble column reactors

摘要

In this paper, we have attempted to validate a transient, two-dimensional axisymmetric simulation of a labortory-scale cylindrical bubble column, fun under bubbly flow and churn turbulent vconditions. The experimjental data was obtained via gamma-radiation based non-invasive flow monitoring methods, viz, computer automated radioactive particle tracking (CARPT) provided the data on liquid velocity and turbulence, and computed tomgraphy (CT) determined the gas holdup profiles. The numerical simulations was done using the FLUENT software and compares the results from the algebraic slip mixture model, and the two-fluid Euler-Euler model. Reasonably, good quantitative agreement was obtained between the experimental data and simulations for the time-averaged gas holdup and axial liquid velocity profiles, as well as for teh kinetic energy profiles. The favorable results suggest that the simple two-dimensinal axisymmetric simulation can be used for reasonable engineering calculations of the overall flow pattern and gas holdup distributions.