Oxygen transfer in bubble columns at industrially relevant superficial velocities: Experimental work and CFD modelling

• Published in: Chemical engineering journal (Lausanne, Switzerland : 1996) Switzerland : 1996), 2015-11, Vol.280, p.138-146
• Main Authors: McClure, Dale D., Kavanagh, John M., Fletcher, David F., Barton, Geoffrey W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bubble column; Computational fluid dynamics; Mass transfer; Multiphase flow; Oxygen transfer
• ISSN: 1385-8947; 1873-3212
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2015.06.003

•The oxygen transfer rate was measured at pilot-scale.•Measurements made at industrially-relevant superficial velocities (0.14–0.28ms−1).•Measured oxygen transfer rate was between 6.5 and 8.8kgm−3h−1.•CFD model of column developed.•Model predicts experimental results within ±20% for velocities examined. In this study, the oxygen transfer rate (OTR), bubble size distribution, interfacial area per unit volume and liquid film mass transfer coefficient have all been measured in a 0.39m diameter pilot-scale bubble column operated at industrially relevant superficial velocities between 0.14 and 0.28ms−1 for which few data exist in the literature. The measured OTR ranged from 6.5 to 8.8kgm−3h−1, with values generally increasing with superficial velocity. The mean bubble size in the column was 3–5mm, giving an interfacial area per unit volume for mass transfer of some 380–570m2m−3. Experimental data were used to validate a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) based model of the bubble column; it was found that this model could predict the experimentally measured OTR within 20% across the range of superficial velocities examined.