Mass Transfer in an Airlift Reactor with a Net Draft Tube

Abstract

Gas-liquid mass transfer in an airlift reactor with net draft tube is investigated. The effects of both the ratio of draft tube to reactor diameter and the reactor pressure on oxygen transfer are considered. The value of the volumetric mass transfer coefficient, kLa, increases with a decreasing diameter ratio at higher air flow rates. The correlation of volumetric mass transfer coefficient with respect to the true superficial air velocity under different reactor pressures is determined. The kLa value decreases with increasing reactor pressure.