AN EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY OF THE HYDRODYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF EXTERNALLOOP AIRLIFT CONTACTORS

Global hydrodynamic characteristics-gas hold-up and liquid circulating velocity-were measured in two external loop airlift contactors. Geome trical parameters, such as the height of the airlift, the design of th e phase separator, the gas sparger and operating parameters, were foun d to have significant effects on global hydrodynamic characteristics. In particular, circulation velocity was found to be dependent on liqui d volume. To predict gas hold-up in the riser, a simple model, which g ives good agreement with experimental data obtained with various airli ft geometries, was proposed.