Oil drop size and gas hold‐up in an oil–water airlift system with motionless mixers

Abstract

AbstractThe degree of emulsification, measured as surface area of oil generated, was studied. The effect of interfacial tension, volume fraction of oil, and power per unit volume on the Sauter mean diameter of the oil drops was determined in an airlift system with motionless mixers. A mathematical expression to predict the Sauter mean diameter was developed using regression techniques. From this equation another equation, which will predict the surface area of oil in terms of the same variables, was derived. The effects of water air surface tension and power per unit volume on the gas hold‐up were obtained using similar techniques. The results show that the interfacial tension and the surface tension are important variables when hydrocarbon fermentations are carried out in airlift systems.