DISTRIBUTION OF ENERGY-DISSIPATION IN AIRLIFT REACTORS

A mathematical model of an airlift reactor (ALR) is presented, which i s based on the careful application of the first law of thermodynamics to each of the regions of the reactor. The model requires as input dat a the pressures and the holdup in each region, and allows the calculat ion of the energy dissipation in them. Using formulations of the drift -flux model, the range of possible gas recirculation can be obtained f rom energetic considerations. A ''global shear rate'' can be calculate d for each of the regions of an ALR. An example is presented, which co mpares the energy dissipation as a function of the gas flow rate in tw o ALRs which differ only in the bottom clearance.