RESPONSE DATA-ANALYSIS OF A 3-PHASE AIRLIFT REACTOR

Different methods of response data analysis in the time and frequency domain were compared in a study of local and overall liquid mixing pro perties of a gas-liquid-solid internal loop airlift reactor with low d ensity particles. The reactor was analysed using the axial dispersion model as a system consisting of five interrelated zones: draft, annulu s and three top sections. Convolution in the time domain was the simpl est and most accurate method of response data analysis, based on the p redictions of the mean residence time. This method requires an analyti cal solution in the time domain of the non-ideal flow model. In cases when such a solution is not available (e.g. for the air Lift reactor a s a whole), analysis in the frequency domain was used with almost the same results.