Abstract
A precise estimation of the bubble size distribution (BSD) is required to understand the fluid dynamics in gas-liquid bubble columns at the “bubble scale,” evaluate the heat and mass transfer rate, and support scale-up approaches. In this paper, we have formulated a population balance model, and we have validated it against a previously published experimental dataset. The experimental dataset consists of BSDs obtained in the “pseudo-homogeneous” flow regime, in a large-diameter and large-scale bubble column. The aim of the population balance model is to predict the BSD in the developed region of the bubble column using as input the BSD at the sparger. The proposed approach has been able to estimate the BSD correctly and is a promising approach for future studies and to estimate bubble size in large-scale gas–liquid bubble columns.
Highlights
Two-phase bubble columns are used to bring one or several gases into contact with a liquid phase; they have found many applications thanks to their many advantages
Uncertainties in bubble column design and scale-up arise from the lack of understanding of the phenomena governing the bubble size distributions (BSDs) and, the overall column fluid dynamics
The proposed population balance model (PBM) approach is able to predict bubble size distributions in the bubble column, in the “pseudo-homogeneous” flow regime
Summary
Two-phase bubble columns are used to bring one or several gases into contact with a liquid phase; they have found many applications thanks to their many advantages (i.e., the simplicity of construction, the lack of mechanically operated parts, low energy consumption, reasonable prices, and the large contact area between the phases). A bubble column provides a good experimental system for the study of turbulent phenomena in bubbly flows and is a suitable setup for the development and validation of computational models. BSD depends on many phenomena, for example, the balance between the coalescence and breakup rates, the pressure change, the phase change, and mass transfer. The experimental dataset consists of BSDs obtained in the “pseudo-homogeneous” flow regime and in a large-diameter and large-scale bubble column. The aim of this model is to compute the BSD in the developed region of the column, using as input the BSD at the sparger
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