Flow behavior of wakes in a three-phase slurry bubble column with viscous liquid medium

Abstract

Flow behavior of wakes has been investigated in a three-phase slurry bubble column of 0.102 m ID and 1.5 m in height. The dependence of wake characteristics such as rising velocity, frequency, holdup and equivalent size on the operating variables was examined by employing an electric resistivity probe method. The gas velocity, liquid viscosity and solid content in the slurry phase were chosen as independent parameters. The rising velocity of wake region increased with an increase in the gas velocity (4.0–12.0 cm/s), liquid viscosity (1.0–50.0 mPa·s) or solid content (0–25 wt%) in the slurry phase. The frequency and holdup of wake phase increased with increasing gas velocity, but decreased with increasing liquid viscosity or solid content in the slurry phase. The equivalent size of wake phase increased with increasing gas velocity, liquid viscosity or solid content in the slurry phase. The wake properties and holdup were well correlated with operation variables within these experimental conditions.