Hydrodynamic studies in both bi-dimensional and three-dimensional bubble columns with a single sparger

Abstract

Gas holdup in highly viscous fluid in two-phase bubble column with a single sparger operated continuously with respect to the gas flow and batch wise with respect to the liquid was investigated using bed expansion technique. Two- and three-dimensional columns of the same effective cross-sectional area were investigated. Liquid viscosity varied between 0.063 and 0.320 Pa s, static bed heights between 0.12 and 0.60 m, surface tension between 0.0248 and 0.035 N m −1 and density between 906 and 928 kg m −3. Columns were injected with air at superficial gas velocities between 0.0018 and 0.290 m s −1. A single nozzle sparger of 0.01 m diameter was used. The behavior of bubbles in two-dimensional bubble column was found to fall into the bubble flow regime, whereas the behavior in three-dimensional column was found to fall into the churn turbulent regime. Two correlations for gas holdup in the two- and three-dimensional bubble columns were proposed and compared with correlations listed in the literature.