| Bubble column reactors are widely used in the chemical and biochemical industries. They were reactors of choice in syngas conversion to clean fuels and chemicals. Most of the current applications of bubble column reactors in the chemical process industry require operation at high-pressure conditions. Further, to enhance the volumetric productivity, high gas flow rates are employed. The fundamental description of bubble column hydrodynamics under these conditions is very complex and complete understanding has not yet been established in spite of concerted research efforts. In order to improve our ability to quantify phenomena in bubble columns, it is essential that precise and quality experimental information is available to advance the state of the art in bubble column design and operation. In this study, measurements of gas holdup from Computed Tomography, and of time-averaged liquid velocity and turbulence from Computer Automated Radioactive Particle Tracking are obtained in a 6.4&inches; diameter stainless steel bubble column at elevated pressure and at high superficial gas velocity with different gas spargers.; It is shown quantitatively that deep in the churn-turbulent regime, gas holdup and liquid recirculation increase with pressure and superficial gas velocity while sparger effects are predominantly confined to the distributor zone. Additionally, an increase in pressure results in the reduction of turbulent normal stresses and eddy diffusivities most likely due to a reduction in bubble size. Based on the experimental data obtained from this study, a correction factor to the correlation of Zehner (1986) for predicting the centerline liquid velocity is developed to account for pressure effect on liquid recirculation. The correction factor indicates an one-eighth power dependency on gas density. Comparison of the experimentally estimated eddy viscosity with the model of Ohnuki and Akimoto (2001) suggests that the contribution of bubble-induced turbulence to the effective eddy viscosity is small as compared to that from the shear-induced turbulence. Though further studies are required to comprehend the pressure effects on larger diameter column, this study provides the first detail hydrodynamic data set at high pressure and very high superficial gas velocity. |
