COMPUTATIONAL FLUID-DYNAMICS APPLIED TO GAS-LIQUID CONTACTORS

In this paper a 'hierarchy of models' is discussed to study the fluid dynamic behaviour of gas-liquid bubble columns. This 'hierarchy of mod els' consists of a Eulerian-Eulerian two fluid model, a Eulerian-Lagra ngian discrete bubble model and a Volume Tracking or Marker Particle m odel. These models will be briefly reviewed and their advantages and d isadvantages will be highlighted. In addition,a mixed Eulerian-Lagrang ian model and a volume tracking model, both developed at Twente Univer sity, will be discussed. Some selected results obtained with these mod els will be presented with emphasis on the results obtained with the v olume tracking model. Finally, a brief discussion on advanced experime ntal techniques, which reflect the recent progress in experimental flu id dynamics, will be presented. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.