Simple Model for Gas Holdup and Liquid Velocity of Annular Photocatalytic External-Loop Airlift Reactor Under both Bubble and Developing Slug Flow

Based on the momentum conservation approach, a theoretical model was developed to predict the superficial liquid velocity, and a correlation equation was established to calculate the gas holdup of an annular external-loop airlift reactor(AELAR)in the bubble flow and developing slug flow pattern. Experiments were performed by using tap-water and silicone oil with the viscosity of 2.0 mm^2/s(2cs-SiO)and 5.0 mm^2/s(5cs-SiO)as liquid phases. The effects of liquid viscosity and flow pattern on the AELAR performance were investigated. The predictions of the proposed model were in good agreement with the experimental results of the AELAR. In addition, the comparison of the experimental results shows that the proposed model has good accuracy and could be used to predict the gas holdup and liquid velocity of an AELAR operating in bubble and developing flow pattern.

A New Model for Prediction of Mean Liquid Circulating Velocity in Bubble Columns

A new model without any fitting parameter for estimating the mean liquid recirculating velocity has been derived from previous work directly. The prediction agrees with experimental data reasonably well. Accurency of prediction from the new model is comparable with the models reported in the literature. However, the new model has a potential capability to predict the average liquid recirculation velocity at elevated pressure bubble columns since n and c is developed under pressure. However this needs to be further tested experimentally.

Study on Liquid-Phase Axial Dispersion in Converging Taper Liquid-Solid Fluidized Beds

It is found analytically that the parabolic radial profile of liquid velocity in cylindrical liquid-solid fluidized bed (LSFB) causes particles to circulate around some radial position. This is the main reason for liquid-phase axial dispersions. The liquid-phase axial dispersion is depressed as the liquid velocity presents a flatter Bessel radial profile in a converging taper LSFB. The void fraction increases with axial distance in converging taper LSFB. The behavior produces less liquid-phase axial dispersion. Experimental results show good coincidence.

Turbulent Liquid Flow in a Gas-Liquid Bubble Column

The radial distribution of the axial component of time-average liquid velocity and turbulent intensity in a gas-liquid bubble column was investigated experimentally using Laser Doppler Anemometer (LDA). The effects of operating parameters on liquid turbulent intensity are studied and an empirical relationship between turbulent intensity and viscosity was established. Such a relationship can be used conveniently in the calculation of liquid velocity profiles in bubble columns.

Three-Dimensional Velocity Distribution Measurement Using Ultrasonic Velocity Profiler with Developed Transducer

This study describes an ultrasonic velocity profiler that uses a new ultrasonic array transducer with unique 5-element configuration, with all five elements acting as transmitters and four elements as receivers. The receivers are designed to reduce the amount of uncertainty. As the fluid moves through this setup, four Doppler frequencies are obtained. The multi-dimensional velocity information along the measurement line can be reconstructed. The transducer has a compact geometry suitable for a wide range of applications, including narrow flow areas. The transducer’s basic frequency and sound pressure are selected and evaluated to be compatible with the application. First, to confirm the measurement ability, the measurement of the developed system in two-dimensional flow is validated by comparing it to the theoretical data. The uncertainty of measurement was within 15%. Second, the three-dimensional measurement in turbulent and swirling flow is proved experimentally to check the applicability of the proposed technique.

Liquid Circulation in a Multi-tube Air-lift Loop Reactor

A multi-tube air-lift loop reactor (MT-ALR) is presented in this paper. Based on the energy conservation, a mathematical model describing the liquid circulation flow rate was developed, which was determined by gas velocity, the cross areas of riser and downcomer, gas hold-up and the local frictional loss coefficient. The experimental data indicate that either increase of gas flow rate or reduction of the downcomer diameter contributes to higher liquid circulation rate. The correlation between total and the local frictional loss coefficients was also established.Effects of gas flowrate in two risers and diameter of downcomer on the liquid circulation rate were examined. The value of total frictional loss coefficient was measured as a function of the cross area of downcomer and independent of the gas flow rate. The calculated results of liquid circulation rates agreed well with the experimental data with an average relative error of 9.6%.

RESEARCH ON METHOD TO CALCULATE VELOCITIES OF SOLID PHASE AND LIQUID PHASE IN DEBRIS FLOW

Velocities of solid phase and liquid phase in debris flow are one key problem to research on impact and abrasion mechanism of banks and control structures under action of debris flow. Debris flow was simplified as two-phase liquid composed of solid phase with the same diameter particles and liquid phase with the same mechanical features. Assume debris flow was one-dimension two-phase liquid moving to one direction, then general equations of velocities of solid phase and liquid phase were founded in two-phase theory. Methods to calculate average pressures, volume forces and surface forces of debris flow control volume were established. Specially, surface forces were ascertained using Bingham＇s rheology equation of liquid phase and Bagnold＇s testing results about interaction between particles of solid phase. Proportional coefficient of velocities between liquid phase and solid phase was put forward, meanwhile, divergent coefficient between theoretical velocity and real velocity of solid phase was provided too. To state succinctly before, method to calculate velocities of solid phase and liquid phase was obtained through solution to general equations. The method is suitable for both viscous debris flow and thin debris flow. Additionally, velocities every phase can be identified through analyzing deposits in-situ after occurring of debris flow. It is obvious from engineering case the result in the method is consistent to that in real-time field observation.

Study of Water Movement in Unsaturated Copper Ore

Leaching is widely applied in the exploitation of depleted ores. In order to discover the law of leachant movement in the leaching process and calculating volumes and time intervals of spraying leachant,experiments and numerical simulation with the TOUGH2/EOS3 module were carried out in order to find out the principle of water movement in unsaturated copper ore. The results show that water volume increases at the same location over time,that copper ore tends to become saturated and that liquid velocity decreases at the same time as the distance from top in-creases. On the other hand,a comparison and analysis of our experimental and simulated results indicate that the EOS3 module could accurately simulate the water movement in an unsaturated state.

Experimental and Computational Investigations on Severe Slugging in A Catenary Riser

Severe slugging can occur in a pipeline-riser system at relatively low liquid and gas flow rates during gas-oil transportation, possibly causing unexpected damage to the production facilities. Experiments with air and water are conducted in a horizontal and downward inclined pipeline followed by a catenary riser in order to investigate the mechanism and characteristics of severe slugging. A theoretical model is introduced to compare with the experiments. The results show that the formation mechanism of severe slugging in a catenary riser is different from that in a vertical riser due to the riser geometry and five flow patterns are obtained and analyzed. A gas-liquid mixture slug stage is observed at the beginning of one cycle of severe slugging, which is seldom noticed in previous studies. Based on both experiments and computations, the time period and variation of pressure amplitude of severe slugging are found closely related to the superficial gas velocity, implying that the gas velocity significantly influences the flow patterns in our experiments. Moreover, good agreements between the experimental data and the numerical results are shown in the stability curve and flow regime map, which can be a possible reference for design in an offshore oil-production system.

Optimizing Conditions of Enhancing Granule Sludge Concentration and Performance

An expanded granular sludge bed （EGSB） reactor was adopted to study the influence factors and rule of enhancing granular sludge concentration and performance. The experiment was performed at 33 ℃, pH 6.0-8.0 with continuous flow by adding proper quantity of nutritional trace elements. The results show that SLR was the key of steady operation of EGSB reactor. The increment of the granular sludge was influenced by volume loading rate （VLR）, liquid up-flow velocity and sludge loading rate （SLR）. Concentration of granular sludge increased rapidly when liquid up-flow velocity was over 0.94 m · h^-1 with SLR being at 1.0-2.0 d ^-1. With the propriety parameters： liquid up-flow velocity 2.52 m · h^-1, SLR 1.0-2.2 d^-1 and VLR 8.2-13.1 kg · m ^3 · d^-1, 23 days＇ continuous operation resulted in an increment by over 80% of granular sludge concentration in the EGSB reactor, plus good granular sludge property.

Spray Characteristics Study of Combined Trapezoid Spray Tray

The spray behaviors of the combined trapezoid spray tray(CTST) have a significant effect on the gas-liquid interface. In this paper, the spray process of CTST in a column, 570 mm in diameter, was experimentally investigated by using a high-speed camera, and a theoretical model of the average droplet size was established according to the unstable wave theory. The results demonstrated that gas velocity passing through the hole is the key factor affecting the spray angle, which increases gradually with an increase in the gas velocity. When the gas velocity exceeds 7.5 m/s, the spray angle becomes stable at around 55°. The average flow velocity of the liquid sheet at the spray-hole increases significantly with an increase in the gas velocity, and decreases slightly with an increase in the liquid flow rate; moreover, it increases from the bottom of spray hole upward to the top. The density of liquid drops distribution in the spray area can be described by the RosinRammler function. In addition, the liquid drops are mainly concentrated in the area of spray angle ranging from 20° to 40°, and they gradually become uniform with the increase in the gas velocity and the liquid flow rate. The average liquid drop size deceases with an increase in the gas velocity, and increases slightly with an increasing liquid flow rate. In the normal working range, the average liquid drop size is about 1.0 mm to 2.5 mm in diameter.

Hydrodynamic characteristics of a rectangular gas-driven inverse liquid-solid fluidized bed

The hydrodynamic characteristics of a rectangular gas-driven inverse liquid-solid fluidized bed(GDFB)using particles of different diameters and densities were investigated in detail.Rising gas bubbles cause a liquid upflow in the riser portion,enabling a liquid downflow that causes an inverse fluidization in the downer portion.Four flow regimes(fixed bed regime,initial fluidization regime,complete fluidization regime,and circulating fluidization regime)and three transition gas velocities(initial fluidization gas velocity,minimum fluidization gas velocity,and circulating fluidization gas velocity)were identified via visual observation and by monitoring the variations in the pressure drop.The axial local bed voidage(e)of the downer first decreases and then increases with the increase of the gas velocity.Both the liquid circulation velocity and the average particle velocity inside the downer increase with the increase of the gas velocity in the riser,but decrease with the particle loading.An empirical formula was proposed to successfully predict the Richardson-Zaki index“n”,and the predicted e obtained from this formula has a±5%relative error when compared with the experimental e.

Dependence of the coefficient of ultrasonic velocity on the coefficient of free length in organic liquids

On the basis of Jacobson's free length theory and the theory of pressure coefficient and temperature coefficient of free length in liquids, the relationship between the pressure coefficient of ultrasonic velocity and the pressure coefficient of free length, and the relationship between the temperature coefficient of ultrasonic velocity and the temperature coefficient of free length were studied. Relevant equations were given, and the pressure coefficient and temperature coefficient of ultrasonic velocity were calculated, which are in agreement with the measured values.

Hydrodynamics in a new liquid–solid circulating conventional fluidized bed

A new type of liquid–solid fluidized bed,named circulating conventional fluidized bed(CCFB)which operates below particle terminal velocity was proposed and experimentally studied.The hydrodynamic behavior was systematically studied in a liquid–solid CCFB of 0.032 m I.D.and 4.5 m in height with five different types of particles.Liquid–solid fluidization with external particle circulation was experimentally realized below the particle terminal velocity.The axial distribution of local solids holdup was obtained and found to be fairly uniform in a wide range of liquid velocities and solids circulation rates.The average solids holdup is found to be significantly increased compared with conventional fluidization at similar conditions.The effect of particle properties and operating conditions on bed behavior was investigated as well.Results show that particles with higher terminal velocity have higher average solids holdup.

Scale-up effect analysis and modeling of liquid-solid circulating fluidized bed risers using multigene genetic programming

Understanding scale-up effects on the hydrodynamics of a liquid-solid circulating fluidized bed(LSCFB)unit requires both experimental and theoretical analysis.We implement multigene genetic programming(MGGP)to investigate the solid holdup and distribution in three LSCFB systems with different heights.In addition to data obtained here,we also use a portion of data sets of LSCFB systems developed by Zheng(1999)and Liang et al.(1996).Model predictions are in good agreement with the experimental data in both radial and axial directions and at different normalized superficial liquid and solid velocities.The radial profiles of the solid holdup are approximately identical at a fixed average cross-sectional solid holdup for the three LSCFB systems studied.Statistical performance indicators including the mean absolute percentage error(6.19%)and correlation coefficient(0.985)are within an acceptable range.The results suggest that a MGGP modeling approach is suitable for predicting the solid holdup and distribution of a scaled-up LSCFB system.

CFD simulation of the hydrodynamics in an internal air-lift reactor with two different configurations

Computationalfluid dynamics(CFD)was used to investigate the hydrodynamic parameters of two internal airlift bioreactors with different configurations.Both had a riser diameter of 0.1 m.The model was used to predict the effect of the reactor geometry on the reactor hydrody-namics.Water was utilized as the continuous phase and air in the form of bubbles was applied as the dispersed phase.A two-phaseflow model provided by the bubblyflow application mode was employed in this project.In the liquid phase,the turbulence can be described using the k-εmodel.Simulated gas holdup and liquid circulation velocity results were compared with experimental data.The predictions of the simulation are in good agreement with the experimental data.