ASSESSMENT OF THE LOCAL HYDRODYNAMIC ZONES IN A THREE-PHASE AIRLIFT REACTOR: LOOKING FOR THE LOWEST LIQUID-PHASE Re

作者：Lizardi Jimenez M A^*; Gutierrez Rojas M

来源：Revista Mexicana de Ingenieria Quimica, 2011, 10(1): 59-65.

• airlift
• hydrodynamics
• riser
• downcomer
• three-phase
• Re

Hydrodynamic in main airlift reactor (ALR) zones (riser and downcomer) was evaluated in order to find the lowest Reynolds number (Re) in a three-phase ALR. In our study, three phases were identified: one gaseous (air) and two liquids (oil and aqueous). Two Re of the liquid species, one for each phase; were defined: Re(aq) and Re(oil) corresponding to the aqueous and oil phase, respectively. Since gas phase was considered by hold up (epsilon g) in our work. In 10 L ALR, riser showed turbulent aqueous phase flow (4000 < Re(aq) < 9000) whereas downcomer exhibited non-turbulent flow (1250 < Re(aq) < 4000). Re(oil) in riser (5000 < Re(oil) < 10000) was higher than Re(aq); whereas in downcomer, Re(oil) was lower than Re(aq) (200 < Re(oil) < 2200). The oil phase into the downcomer zone was demonstrated to be the most important hydrodynamic constraint and consequently limited mass transfer should be expected. The complexity of three-phase flow and the limited measurement technologies have generated few studies regarding the local hydrodynamics properties restricting three-phase reactors optimization and commercialization; our study is a contribution to identify such restrictions.

• 出版日期2011-4