Numerical simulation of gas holdup in nocoalescence media of industrial-scale bubble column

• Published in: Progress in nuclear energy (New series) 2022-04, Vol.146, p.104172, Article 104172
• Main Authors: Wen, Jiming, Tian, Ruifeng, Tan, Sichao, Wang, Bo, Meng, Tao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bubble columns; Bubbles; Coalescing; Configurations; Fluid dynamics; Gas holdup; Gases; Industrial plants; Industrial scale; Noncoalescence media; Numerical analysis; Numerical simulation; Orifices; Simulation; Venting systems
• ISSN: 0149-1970; 1878-4224
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pnucene.2022.104172

A bubble column is an industrial-scale wet filtration facility that contains non-coalescence media. To overcome the experimental challenges, numerical simulation was employed to investigate the influence of various factors on the whole gas holdup εt. These include the bubble diameter ds, initial liquid height Hs, column diameter, Dc, the number of bubbling orifices N, and the configuration of bubbling orifices. Two magnitudes of the superficial gas velocity UG, were selected to represent the homogeneous and heterogeneous flow regimes, respectively. The relationship between εt and ds changed within different ds ranges. The proportion of the developing region in the total liquid height is an important factor that influences εt. For an “industrial-scale” column, εt increased with N when N  49. The configuration of bubbling orifices significantly influences εt when N > 49. The results of this study show the need to optimize the bubble column and improve the operating performance of filtered containment venting systems. •In no-coalescence media, εg increases obviously with increasing ds as ds  6 mm.•Aspect ratio whose independent value for εg is affected by UG can reflect the relative magnitude between Dc and Hs.•As N is small, N is more important than the arrange scheme of bubbling orifice for εg.