Liquid circulation in a multi-tube air-lift loop reactor

A multi-tube air-lift loop reactor (MT-ALR) is presented in this paper. Bas ed on the energy conservation, a mathematical model describing the liquid c irculation flow rate was developed, which was determined by gas velocity, t he cross areas of riser and downcomer, gas hold-up and the local frictional loss coefficient. The experimental data indicate that either increase of g as flow rate or reduction of the downcomer diameter contributes to higher l iquid circulation rate. The correlation between total and the local frictio nal loss coefficients was also established. Effects of gas flowrate in two risers and diameter of downcomer on the liquid circulation rate were examin ed. The value of total frictional loss coefficient was measured as a functi on of the cross area of downcomer and independent of the gas flow rate. The calculated results of liquid circulation rates agreed well with the experi mental data with an average relative error of 9.6%.