Review on the Effect of Gas Distributor on Flow Behavior and Reaction Performance of the Bubble/Slurry Reactors

Abstract

Gas distributors greatly affect the performance of bubble column or slurry bubble column reactors (BCR/SBCRs). Investigation of design parameters characterizing the operation and transport phenomena of gas distributors in BCR/SBCRs can lead to a better understanding of hydrodynamic properties and mass transfer mechanisms. The performance of gas distributors is often described using various mathematical models and computational fluid dynamics simulations supported by experimental research. Nonetheless, little effort has been made to review the effect of the configurations of gas distributors on BCR/SBCR performance. The negative consequences of weeping and uneven gas maldistribution caused by unreasonable design of the distributor were rarely appreciated. This paper reviews the effects of gas distributor configuration on flow behavior and reaction performance. Adequate information about the design and development of gas distributor technology in BCR/SBCRs is provided. Some suggestions for potential research to better comprehend the effects of gas distributor design are put forward.