Local heat-transfer measurements are performed using a special heat-tr
ansfer probe in gas-liquid and gas-liquid-solid systems with viscous N
ewtonian liquids as the continuous phase. Effects of viscosity on bubb
le-liquid and bubble-liquid-solid interactions affecting local heat tr
ansfer are studied through heat-transfer experiments with simultaneous
flow visualization in a simplified system involving single bubbles or
a chain of gas bubbles moving in viscous liquids and liquid-solid sys
tems. Effects of viscosity on bubble wake and local heat transfer are
examined with reference to heat transfer in freely-bubbling beds (bubb
le columns and three-phase fluidized beds). The kinematic viscosity of
the fluid greatly influences the nature of flow in the wake which aff
ects local heat transfer in the bed. The local heat transfer decreases
with the viscosity due to the rapid decay in the circulation strength
of the bubble wake caused by increased viscous dissipation of vortici
ty. Local heat transfer due to cyclic/periodic injection of bubbles is
significantly enhanced due to increased bubble-wake interactions whic
h rapidly accelerate bubbles and increase average bubble rise velocity
. Heat transfer in simplified liquid and liquid-solid systems with sin
gle- and chain-bubble injections characterizes the local heat-transfer
performance of freely-bubbling beds (bubble columns and three-phase f
luidized beds). A mechanistic model developed accounts for the heat-tr
ansfer behavior in bubble columns and three-phase fluidized beds with
viscous liquids.