MODELING OF AIRLIFT REACTORS BASED ON BUBBLE DYNAMICS

Predictions of hydrodynamic performance of an air-lift reactor (ALR) h ave traditionally considered bulk gas and liquid phase characteristics . This study aims to present an alternative approach of modelling an A LR by estimating the energy input to the reactor and gas hold-up in th e riser based on dynamics of individual bubbles. The bubbles have been assumed to rise in discrete layers in the riser having a diameter in equilibrium with the surrounding pressure. The model predictions of ga s hold-up and liquid velocity in the downcomer for ALRs have been comp ared with the reported experimental data.