Numerical Simulation of a Gas–Liquid Oscillatory Baffled Column Focusing on Hydrodynamics and Mass Transfer

• Published in: Industrial & engineering chemistry research 2022-07, Vol.61 (26), p.9443-9455
• Main Author: Ranganathan, Panneerselvam
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Thermodynamics, Transport, and Fluid Mechanics
• ISSN: 0888-5885; 1520-5045
• DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.2c00621

This work involves the study of the fluid dynamic and mass transfer behaviors of a gassed oscillatory baffled column (OBC) using a coupled computational fluid dynamics (CFD)–population balance model (PBM). First, the liquid flow behavior and power dissipation rate of the OBC were studied. The CFD model result of averaged liquid velocity in the OBC was validated with the literature experimental data. The power dissipation rate obtained from CFD simulation was compared with the correlation of the quasi-state model (QSM) and eddy enhancement model (EEM). The model prediction matches well with the QSM. Furthermore, the study was extended to investigate the fluid dynamic and mass transfer behaviors in the OBC by predicting gas holdup, bubble size distribution, and volumetric mass transfer coefficient (k L a). The averaged quantities of these quantities were compared using the experimental data. The results show adequate agreement with the experimental data. Also, the local behaviors of the liquid flow pattern, gas holdup, and mass transfer in the OBC were discussed. The time-averaged liquid flow patterns in the OBC show two circulation cells in the interbaffle zone of the OBC. Furthermore, the influence of operating parameters on gas holdup and k L a in the OBC was investigated. Finally, this work was extended to study the flow dynamics of an oscillatory inclined baffled column as an intensified OBC. The type of intensified OBC has not yet been reported in the literature. The results show the low power dissipation rate for the inclined baffled column compared to the conventional OBC. The main contribution involves the prediction of mass transfer behavior in the gas–liquid OBC through CFD simulation, which has not been attempted in the literature.