Interfacial area, bubble coalescence and mass transfer in bubble column reactors

Abstract

Abstract Relationships are developed for determining interfacial areas as a function of bubble coalescence and for predicting liquid‐film‐controlled mass transfer in deep seal bubble column reactors. Interfacial area is inversely dependent on mean bubble size; the mass transfer constant is directly dependent on bubble size. A correction for enhancement due to liquid‐phase reaction must be applied, and enhancement is shown to decrease with increasing bubble size. Experimental measurements on the catalyzed rate of oxygen absorption from air in aqueous sodium sulfite solutions were made in a 0.299 m diameter × 9.14 m high glass column. Water and aqueous solutions of a surfactant and corn syrup were used to simulate ranges of surface tensions, densities, and viscosities. Perforated plates with 0.00635‐m holes and 2.85% open area were inserted at 1.524‐m spacing on half of the experimental runs to show the effects of gas redispersion. Two‐phase flow velocities were adjusted to cover ranges of interest in full‐scale, commercial bubble column reactor design.