Mass transfer and hydrodynamic characteristics of loop reactors with downflow liquid jet ejector

Abstract

The mass transfer and hydrodynamic characteristics of a loop reactor have been investigated using downflow liquid jet ejectors fitted with straight- and venturi-type throats. The entrainment rate of the liquid jet and the gas holdup were shown as functions of power input per unit volume of the liquid. Similarly, the interfacial area and volumetric mass-transfer coefficient were correlated with the power input. The interfacial areas achieved with a venturi ejector are far superior to those obtained with a straight throat ejector. For the liquid-side mass transfer coefficient, the trend was found to be reversed within the range of the operating variables studied in this work. The gas—liquid behaviour inside the ejectors was analysed qualitatively for a better understanding of the phenomenon.