Hydrodynamic Study of Bubbles in a Bubble Column Reactor Part II – Numerical Study

Abstract

The present work deals with the use of CFD analysis and the validation of the experimental work carried out on the artificial splitting of an air bubble in a bubble column reactor. In Part I of this work, artificial splitting of bubble in a bubble column rector is experimentally studied by using a high speed camera. Image processing technique was used to identify bubble size and bubble velocity. In present work CFD simulations are carried out using ANSYS FLUENT software using Volume of Fluids (VOF) method. VOF is based on a surface tracking technique applied to a fixed Eulerian space. The phase fraction in physical quantities that can be used to distinguish the distribution of gas hold up in a bubble Column reactor. The numerical study of splitting of bubble into two bubbles of nearly equal size is considered. In the bubble column reactor, the liquid phase is stationary and gas flow rate in it is varied. The superficial gas flow rates are 10 lph, 15 lph, 20 lph and 25 lph. The characteristics of bubble after splitting which include its shape, size and velocity for various gas flow rates mentioned above are studied numerically and are compared with experimental results. These hydrodynamic characteristics play a pivotal role in the reactions occurring between the liquid and gas phases in the bubble column reactor.