Numerical simulation of liquid circulation in a bubbly column.

摘要

The gas-liquid flow inside a vertically situated circular, isothermal column reactor has been simulated numerically. The gas-liquid flow is assumed to be in the bubbly flow regime which is characterized by a suspension of discrete air bubbles in a continuous liquid phase such as glycerol water. The mathematical formulation is based on the conservation of mass and momentum principle for the liquid phase. The gas velocity distribution is calculated via an empirically prescribed slip velocity as a function of void fraction. The interface viscous drag forces are prescribed empirically. A profile shape is assumed for the void ratio distribution and the magnitude of it is calculated as part of the solution. The influence of various profile shapes is investigated. Results with the void ratio distribution calculated from the conservation of mass equation for the gas phase are also presented. The mathematical model has been implemented by modifying a readily available computer code for single phase newtonian fluid flows. The numerical discretization is based on a finite volume approach. 21 refs., 3 figs.