Generality of the CFD-PBM coupled model for bubble column simulation

Abstract

Computational fluid dynamics coupled with a population balance model (CFD-PBM) combines the use of CFD to calculate the flow field and phase holdup and that of PBM to calculate the local bubble size distribution. However, the generality of the CFD-PBM coupled model for different operating conditions and liquid properties has not been systematically studied. The CFD-PBM coupled model where the PBM used our bubble breakup and coalescence models was shown to give accurate results in wide operating conditions (P = 0.1–3.5 MPa, Ug = 0.02–0.16 m/s), liquid properties (0.02–0.07 N/m, 1–185 mPa·s) with the same set of model parameters. Overall, the coupled model showed good generality when the superficial gas velocity, operating pressure, liquid viscosity and surface tension are the factors in bubble coalescence and breakup and the appropriate mechanism models are used to account for them, and forces at the gas-liquid interface are calculated using the local gas holdup and bubble size distribution.