CFD Simulations to Validate Two and Three Phase Up-flow in Bubble Columns
Bubble columns have a variety of applications in
absorption, bio-reactions, catalytic slurry reactions, and coal
liquefaction; because they are simple to operate, provide good heat
and mass transfer, having less operational cost. The use of
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for bubble column becomes
important, since it can describe the fluid hydrodynamics on both local
and global scale. Euler- Euler two-phase fluid model has been used to
simulate two-phase (air and water) transient up-flow in bubble
column (15cm diameter) using FLUENT6.3. These simulations and
experiments were operated over a range of superficial gas velocities
in the bubbly flow and churn turbulent regime (1 to16 cm/s) at
ambient conditions. Liquid velocity was varied from 0 to 16cm/s. The
turbulence in the liquid phase is described using the standard k-ε
model. The interactions between the two phases are described
through drag coefficient formulations (Schiller Neumann). The
objectives are to validate CFD simulations with experimental data,
and to obtain grid-independent numerical solutions. Quantitatively
good agreements are obtained between experimental data for hold-up
and simulation values. Axial liquid velocity profiles and gas holdup
profiles were also obtained for the simulation.
[1] J. Schallenberg, J. H. Enß, D. C. Hempel, "The important role of local
dispersed phase holdups for the calculation of three-phase bubble
columns," Chemical Engineering Science, vol. 60, pp. 6027-6033, 2005.
[2] W. D. Deckwer, "Bubble Column Reactors," Wiley, New York, 1992.
[3] Y. T. Shah, S. P. Godbole, W. D. Deckwer, "Design parameters
estimations for bubble column reactors," AIChE Journal, vol. 28, pp.
353-379, 1982.
[4] H. Li, A. Prakash, "Heat transfer and hydrodynamics in a three-phase
slurry bubble column" Ind Eng Chem Res, vol. 36, pp. 4688-4694, 1997.
[5] W. D. Deckwer, A. Schumpe, "Improved tools for bubble column
reactor design and scale-up," Chemical Engineering Science, vol. 48,
pp. 889-911, 1993.
[6] X. Luo, D. J. Lee, R. Lau, G. Yang, L. Fan, "Maximum stable bubble
size and gas holdup in high-pressure slurry bubble columns," AIChE
Journal, vol. 45 pp. 665-685, 1999.
[7] G. Eigenberger, A. Sokolichin, "Applicability of the standard k-╬Á turbulence
model to the dynamic simulation of bubble columns. part i.
detailed numerical simulations," Chemical Engineering Science, vol. 54,
pp. 2273-2284, 1999.
[8] V. V. Ranade, V. V. Buwa, "Characterization of dynamics of gas-liquid
flows in rectangular bubble columns," AIChE Journal, vol. 50, pp. 2394-
2407, 2004.
[9] A. Sokolichin, G. Eigenberger, O. Borchers, C. Busch, "Applicability of
the standard kepsilon turbulence model to the dynamic simulation of
bubble columns. part ii. Comparison of detailed experiments and flow
simulations," Chemical Engineering Science, vol. 54, pp. 5927-5935,
1999.
[10] K. Bech, "Dynamic simulation of a 2d bubble column," Chemical
Engineering Science, vol. 60, pp. 5294-5304, 2005.
[11] N. Gilbert, H.G. Wagner, D. Peger, S. Gomes, "Hydrodynamic
simulations of laboratory scale bubble columns fundamental studies of
the eulerian-eulerian modeling approach," Chemical Engineering
Science, vol. 54, pp. 5091-5099, 1999.
[12] M. I. Urseanu R. Krishna, J.M. van Baten, "Three-phase eulerian
simulations of bubble column reactors operating in the churn-turbulent
regime: a scale up strategy," Chemical Engineering Science, vol. 55, pp.
3275-3286, 2000.
[13] M. Chang, Y. Pan, M. P. Dudukovic, "Dynamic simulation of bubbly
flow in bubble columns," Chemical Engineering Science, vol. 54, pp.
2481-2499, 1999.
[14] V. V. Ranade, V. V. Buwa, D.S. Deo, "Eulerianlagrangian simulations
of unsteady gasliquid flows in bubble columns" Int. J. Multiphase Flow,
vol. 32, pp. 864-885, 2006.
[15] J. A. M. Kuipers, W .P. M. van Swaaij, E. Delnoij, F. A. Lammers,
"Dynamic simulation of dispersed gas-liquid two-phase flow using a
discrete bubble model," Chemical Engineering Science, vol. 52, pp.
1429-1458, 1997.
[16] J. A. M. Kuipers, D. Darmana, N. G. Deen. "Detailed modeling of
hydrodynamics, mass transfer and chemical reactions in a bubble
column using a discrete bubble model," Chemical Engineering Science,
vol 60, pp. 3383-3404, 2005.
[17] A. Lobbert, A. Lapin, "Numerical simulation of the dynamics of twophase
gas-liquid flows in bubble columns," Chemical Engineering
Science, vol. 49, pp.3661-3674, 1994.
[18] O. Simonin, R. F.Mudde, "Two- and three-dimensional simulations of a
bubble plume using a two-fluid model," Chemical Engineering Science,
vol. 54, pp. 5061-5099, 1999.
[19] A. Lapin A. Liibbert A. Sokolichin, G. Eigenberger, "Dynamic
numerical simulation of gas-liquid two-phase flows euler/euler Vs
euler/lagrange," Chemical Engineering Science, vol. 49, pp. 3661-3674,
1997.
[20] H. D. Mandelson, "The prediction of bubble terminal velocities from
wave theory," AIChE Journal, vol. 13, pp. 250, 1967.
[21] J. P. Vandoormaal, G. D. Raithby, "Enhancements of the SIMPLE
Method for Predicting Incompressible Fluid Flows," Numer. Heat
Transfer, vol. 7, pp. 147-163, 1984.
[22] Z. Naumann, L. Schiller, "A drag coefficient correlation," Z. Ver
Deutsch.Ing, vol. 77, pp. 318-323, 1935.
[23] D. Z. Zhang, W. B. Vanderheyden, "The effects of meso-scale structures
on dispersed two-phase flows and their closures in dilute suspensions,"
International Journal of Multiphase Flow, vol. 28, pp. 805, 2002.
[24] A. Tomiyama, H. Tamai, I. Zun, and S. Hosokawa, "Transverse
migration of single bubbles in simple shear flows," Chemical
Engineering Science, vol. 57, pp. 1849-1858, 2002.
[25] R. Krishna, J.M. van Baten, J. Ellenberger, "Scale-up strategy for bubble
column slurry reactors using cfd simulations," Catalysis Today, vol. 79-
80, pp. 259-265, 2003.
[26] M. P. Dudukovic, N. Rados, M. H. Al-Dahhan, "Dynamic modelling of
slurry bubble column reactors," Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., vol. 44, pp. 6086-
6094, 2005.
[27] F. Zdravistch, A. A. Troshko, "Cfd modelling of slurry bubble column
reactors for fisher-tropsh synthesis," Chemical Engineering Science, vol.
64, pp. 1892-1903, 2009.
[28] W. Feng, J. Wen, J. Fan, Q. Yuan, X. Jia, Y. Sun, "Local
hydrodynamics of gas-liquid-nano particles three-phase fluidization,"
Chemical Engineering Science, vol. 60, pp. 6887-6898, 2005.
[29] G. Hillmer, L. Weismantel, H. Halfmann, "Investigations and modelling
of slurry bubble columns," Chemical Engineering Science, vol. 49, pp.
837-843, 1993.
[1] J. Schallenberg, J. H. Enß, D. C. Hempel, "The important role of local
dispersed phase holdups for the calculation of three-phase bubble
columns," Chemical Engineering Science, vol. 60, pp. 6027-6033, 2005.
[2] W. D. Deckwer, "Bubble Column Reactors," Wiley, New York, 1992.
[3] Y. T. Shah, S. P. Godbole, W. D. Deckwer, "Design parameters
estimations for bubble column reactors," AIChE Journal, vol. 28, pp.
353-379, 1982.
[4] H. Li, A. Prakash, "Heat transfer and hydrodynamics in a three-phase
slurry bubble column" Ind Eng Chem Res, vol. 36, pp. 4688-4694, 1997.
[5] W. D. Deckwer, A. Schumpe, "Improved tools for bubble column
reactor design and scale-up," Chemical Engineering Science, vol. 48,
pp. 889-911, 1993.
[6] X. Luo, D. J. Lee, R. Lau, G. Yang, L. Fan, "Maximum stable bubble
size and gas holdup in high-pressure slurry bubble columns," AIChE
Journal, vol. 45 pp. 665-685, 1999.
[7] G. Eigenberger, A. Sokolichin, "Applicability of the standard k-╬Á turbulence
model to the dynamic simulation of bubble columns. part i.
detailed numerical simulations," Chemical Engineering Science, vol. 54,
pp. 2273-2284, 1999.
[8] V. V. Ranade, V. V. Buwa, "Characterization of dynamics of gas-liquid
flows in rectangular bubble columns," AIChE Journal, vol. 50, pp. 2394-
2407, 2004.
[9] A. Sokolichin, G. Eigenberger, O. Borchers, C. Busch, "Applicability of
the standard kepsilon turbulence model to the dynamic simulation of
bubble columns. part ii. Comparison of detailed experiments and flow
simulations," Chemical Engineering Science, vol. 54, pp. 5927-5935,
1999.
[10] K. Bech, "Dynamic simulation of a 2d bubble column," Chemical
Engineering Science, vol. 60, pp. 5294-5304, 2005.
[11] N. Gilbert, H.G. Wagner, D. Peger, S. Gomes, "Hydrodynamic
simulations of laboratory scale bubble columns fundamental studies of
the eulerian-eulerian modeling approach," Chemical Engineering
Science, vol. 54, pp. 5091-5099, 1999.
[12] M. I. Urseanu R. Krishna, J.M. van Baten, "Three-phase eulerian
simulations of bubble column reactors operating in the churn-turbulent
regime: a scale up strategy," Chemical Engineering Science, vol. 55, pp.
3275-3286, 2000.
[13] M. Chang, Y. Pan, M. P. Dudukovic, "Dynamic simulation of bubbly
flow in bubble columns," Chemical Engineering Science, vol. 54, pp.
2481-2499, 1999.
[14] V. V. Ranade, V. V. Buwa, D.S. Deo, "Eulerianlagrangian simulations
of unsteady gasliquid flows in bubble columns" Int. J. Multiphase Flow,
vol. 32, pp. 864-885, 2006.
[15] J. A. M. Kuipers, W .P. M. van Swaaij, E. Delnoij, F. A. Lammers,
"Dynamic simulation of dispersed gas-liquid two-phase flow using a
discrete bubble model," Chemical Engineering Science, vol. 52, pp.
1429-1458, 1997.
[16] J. A. M. Kuipers, D. Darmana, N. G. Deen. "Detailed modeling of
hydrodynamics, mass transfer and chemical reactions in a bubble
column using a discrete bubble model," Chemical Engineering Science,
vol 60, pp. 3383-3404, 2005.
[17] A. Lobbert, A. Lapin, "Numerical simulation of the dynamics of twophase
gas-liquid flows in bubble columns," Chemical Engineering
Science, vol. 49, pp.3661-3674, 1994.
[18] O. Simonin, R. F.Mudde, "Two- and three-dimensional simulations of a
bubble plume using a two-fluid model," Chemical Engineering Science,
vol. 54, pp. 5061-5099, 1999.
[19] A. Lapin A. Liibbert A. Sokolichin, G. Eigenberger, "Dynamic
numerical simulation of gas-liquid two-phase flows euler/euler Vs
euler/lagrange," Chemical Engineering Science, vol. 49, pp. 3661-3674,
1997.
[20] H. D. Mandelson, "The prediction of bubble terminal velocities from
wave theory," AIChE Journal, vol. 13, pp. 250, 1967.
[21] J. P. Vandoormaal, G. D. Raithby, "Enhancements of the SIMPLE
Method for Predicting Incompressible Fluid Flows," Numer. Heat
Transfer, vol. 7, pp. 147-163, 1984.
[22] Z. Naumann, L. Schiller, "A drag coefficient correlation," Z. Ver
Deutsch.Ing, vol. 77, pp. 318-323, 1935.
[23] D. Z. Zhang, W. B. Vanderheyden, "The effects of meso-scale structures
on dispersed two-phase flows and their closures in dilute suspensions,"
International Journal of Multiphase Flow, vol. 28, pp. 805, 2002.
[24] A. Tomiyama, H. Tamai, I. Zun, and S. Hosokawa, "Transverse
migration of single bubbles in simple shear flows," Chemical
Engineering Science, vol. 57, pp. 1849-1858, 2002.
[25] R. Krishna, J.M. van Baten, J. Ellenberger, "Scale-up strategy for bubble
column slurry reactors using cfd simulations," Catalysis Today, vol. 79-
80, pp. 259-265, 2003.
[26] M. P. Dudukovic, N. Rados, M. H. Al-Dahhan, "Dynamic modelling of
slurry bubble column reactors," Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., vol. 44, pp. 6086-
6094, 2005.
[27] F. Zdravistch, A. A. Troshko, "Cfd modelling of slurry bubble column
reactors for fisher-tropsh synthesis," Chemical Engineering Science, vol.
64, pp. 1892-1903, 2009.
[28] W. Feng, J. Wen, J. Fan, Q. Yuan, X. Jia, Y. Sun, "Local
hydrodynamics of gas-liquid-nano particles three-phase fluidization,"
Chemical Engineering Science, vol. 60, pp. 6887-6898, 2005.
[29] G. Hillmer, L. Weismantel, H. Halfmann, "Investigations and modelling
of slurry bubble columns," Chemical Engineering Science, vol. 49, pp.
837-843, 1993.
@article{"International Journal of Chemical, Materials and Biomolecular Sciences:62149", author = "Shyam Kumar and Nannuri Srinivasulu and Ashok Khanna", title = "CFD Simulations to Validate Two and Three Phase Up-flow in Bubble Columns", abstract = "Bubble columns have a variety of applications in
absorption, bio-reactions, catalytic slurry reactions, and coal
liquefaction; because they are simple to operate, provide good heat
and mass transfer, having less operational cost. The use of
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for bubble column becomes
important, since it can describe the fluid hydrodynamics on both local
and global scale. Euler- Euler two-phase fluid model has been used to
simulate two-phase (air and water) transient up-flow in bubble
column (15cm diameter) using FLUENT6.3. These simulations and
experiments were operated over a range of superficial gas velocities
in the bubbly flow and churn turbulent regime (1 to16 cm/s) at
ambient conditions. Liquid velocity was varied from 0 to 16cm/s. The
turbulence in the liquid phase is described using the standard k-ε
model. The interactions between the two phases are described
through drag coefficient formulations (Schiller Neumann). The
objectives are to validate CFD simulations with experimental data,
and to obtain grid-independent numerical solutions. Quantitatively
good agreements are obtained between experimental data for hold-up
and simulation values. Axial liquid velocity profiles and gas holdup
profiles were also obtained for the simulation.", keywords = "Bubble column, Computational fluid dynamics, Gas
holdup profile, k-ε model.", volume = "5", number = "11", pages = "1053-6", }
