CFD simulation of industrial bubble columns: Numerical challenges and model validation successes

•Numerical simulation of bubble column bioreactors.•Importance of closure models discussed.•Simulation speed up using non-iterative solver.•Validation of ANSYS CFX and ANSYS Fluent against experimental data.•Model suitable for industrial design work. Although bubble columns are widely used in many i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied Mathematical Modelling 2017-04, Vol.44, p.25-42
Main Authors: Fletcher, David F., McClure, Dale D., Kavanagh, John M., Barton, Geoffrey W.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bubble columns
Bubble-induced turbulence
Bubbles
Bubbly flow
Computational fluid dynamics
Computer simulation
Drag
Eulers equations
Fluid dynamics
Heterogeneous flow
Mathematical models
Multiphase
Non-iterative solver
Oxygen transfer
Turbulence
Turbulence modelling
Turbulence models
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Summary:•Numerical simulation of bubble column bioreactors.•Importance of closure models discussed.•Simulation speed up using non-iterative solver.•Validation of ANSYS CFX and ANSYS Fluent against experimental data.•Model suitable for industrial design work. Although bubble columns are widely used in many industrial situations, there are very few studies of such devices operating at high superficial velocities. Numerical simulations using an Euler–Euler methodology are reported here across a wide range of operating conditions, where we discuss model assumptions and model validation. Key to obtaining physically correct results is the choice of closure assumptions. Particular emphasis is placed on the various solution methods that can be employed. In particular, we show that massive speed-up is possible using the new Eulerian multiphase NITA solver in ANSYS Fluent 16. Comparison of results from ANSYS CFX and ANSYS Fluent show that both do a good job of capturing the main features of the flow, the mixing time and the oxygen transfer rate.
ISSN:0307-904X
1088-8691
0307-904X
DOI:10.1016/j.apm.2016.08.033