Liquid transport in a multi-layer froth

Abstract

When a gas is sparged into an aqueous solution of surfactant in a column, a froth layer is formed above the layer of liquid. If water is injected into the rising column of froth at a particular position, two distinct layers are formed in the froth: a wet layer below the injection plane, and a dry layer above it. In this study, a phase coexistence analysis was performed on the three-layer system. Predictions from the governing drift-flux equation were compared, using two different representations of the drainage terms, which had one and two adjustable parameters, respectively. The analysis was used to predict liquid fractions and superficial liquid velocities for the wet and dry froth zones. These were compared to experimental measurements performed with a laboratory froth column. Both versions of the analysis were in good agreement with experiment. That with the single-parameter drainage term (derived from the Richardson–Zaki equation) was marginally superior. Theoretical predictions of the liquid fraction and overflow rate from the dry froth layer are supported by the data. Considerable convective motions were observed in the wet froth layer, driven by differences in density between the entering wash liquid and the surrounding froth.