FRICTIONAL PRESSURE DROP OF GAS–LIQUID–LIQUID DISPERSION IN AN EJECTOR-INDUCED DOWNFLOW COLUMN

Abstract

The dispersion of gas-aided immiscible liquids in the ejector-induced downflow column has an advantage for the separation of contaminants in wastewater and the synthesis of various chemicals in the chemical and biochemical industries. To design scale-up and studies on the kinetics of liquid–liquid reactions in the downflow system, the hydrodynamics characteristics are essential elements. Several other issues regarding the hydrodynamic characteristics should be addressed in the downflow unit with the gas-aided liquid–liquid system. In the present study, the frictional pressure drop of gas–liquid–liquid dispersion was investigated in a gas-aided liquid–liquid downflow column. Two different liquids, water–paraffin and water–kerosene of different viscosities and densities were studied and analyzed in detail. Different models such as Lockhart–Martinelli, Kato, Wallis, and Gharat and Joshi models were considered to interpret the results based on the present operating conditions. A general correlation model was also developed based on the experimental results incorporating dynamic, geometric, and physical properties of the system. The present study may be useful for further understanding of the liquid–liquid operation for industrial applications.