Hydrodynamics of the vortex tray

Abstract

The article presents geometry, dimensions and structural characteristics of tangential swirlers of different design for vortex plates, which are a new type of centrifugal tray. The results of hydraulic tests of the vortex plate with tangential swirlers for an air–water system are given. The research allowed determining the flow regimes of the gas–liquid mixture at the tray and presenting the dependence for determining the critical gas velocity in the channels of the device characterizing the transition from the bubbling flow regime to the annular one. The dependences for calculating the coefficient of hydraulic resistance of the dry tray and the total resistance are determined. The gas content in the rotating liquid layer was studied with determination of the design parameters of the device that affect its value. The values of the angular velocity of the gas–liquid layer are established. The height of the rotating gas–liquid layer is determined and the equation for its calculation is presented. The medium-surface diameter of the gas bubbles in the liquid in the annular flow was 2–3 mm and the interfacial area of the gas–liquid layer was calculated as 600–1,200 m−1.