Abstract
Microbubbles with slow rising speed, higher specific area and greater oxygen dissolution are desired to enhance gas/liquid mass transfer rate. Such attributes are very important to tackle challenges on the low efficiency of gas/liquid mass transfer that occurs in aerobic wastewater treatment systems or in the aquaculture industries. Many reports focus on the formation mechanisms of the microbubbles, but with less emphasis on the system optimization and assessment of the aeration efficiency. This work assesses the performance and evaluates the aeration efficiency of a porous venturi-orifice microbubble generator (MBG). The increment of stream velocity along the venturi pathway and orifice ring leads to a pressure drop (Patm > Pabs) and subsequently to increased cavitation. The experiments were run under three conditions: various liquid velocity (QL) of 2.35–2.60 m/s at fixed gas velocity (Qg) of 3 L/min; various Qg of 1–5 L/min at fixed QL of 2.46 m/s; and free flowing air at variable QLs. Results show that increasing liquid velocities from 2.35 to 2.60 m/s imposes higher vacuum pressure of 0.84 to 2.27 kPa. They correspond to free-flowing air at rates of 3.2–5.6 L/min. When the system was tested at constant air velocity of 3 L/min and under variable liquid velocities, the oxygen dissolution rate peaks at liquid velocity of 2.46 m/s, which also provides the highest volumetric mass transfer coefficient (KLa) of 0.041 min−1 and the highest aeration efficiency of 0.287 kgO2/kWh. Under free-flowing air, the impact of QL is significant at a range of 2.35 to 2.46 m/s until reaching a plateau KLa value of 0.0416 min−1. The pattern of the KLa trend is mirrored by the aeration efficiency that reached the maximum value of 0.424 kgO2/kWh. The findings on the aeration efficiency reveals that the venturi-orifice MBG can be further optimized by focusing on the trade-off between air bubble size and the air volumetric velocity to balance between the amount of available oxygen to be transferred and the rate of the oxygen transfer.
Highlights
Microbubble-based processes have emerged as a promising option for enhancing interphases mass-transfer for industrial applications [1]
The study was focused on the effect of liquid velocity and gas velocity (Qg ) on the generated vacuum pressure and the oxygen mass transfer rate as well as on the aeration efficiency associated with them
This study addresses the knowledge gap on the impact of operational parameters towards the rate of oxygen dissolution using the venturi-orifice type microbubble generators (MBG)
Summary
Microbubble-based processes have emerged as a promising option for enhancing interphases mass-transfer for industrial applications [1]. Microbubbles are generated through three fundamental methods: pressurization dissolution (decompression), rotating-flow (spiral flow) and cavitation for ejector and/or venturi methods [10,12,13] These basic methods are the base for most of the recent modifications and optimizations [2]. The study was focused on the effect of liquid velocity and gas velocity (Qg ) on the generated vacuum pressure and the oxygen mass transfer rate as well as on the aeration efficiency associated with them. Previous reports addressed different types of MBG on their effectiveness for oxygen dissolution, and on the mechanism of microbubble formation and the dynamics of the bubble size and size distribution. This study addresses the knowledge gap on the impact of operational parameters (gas velocity and liquid velocity) towards the rate of oxygen dissolution using the venturi-orifice type MBG. It includes the assessment of the aeration efficiency (kgO2 /kWh), which allows us for a better comparison with other MBGs and other established aeration systems
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