Modeling bubble column reactor with the volume of fluid approach: Comparison of surface tension models

doi:10.1016/j.cjche.2019.02.033

Abstract

Abstract: This work aims at comparing surface tension models in VOF (Volume of Fluid) modeling and investigating the effects of gas distributor and gas velocity. Hydrodynamics of a continuous chain of bubbles inside a bubble column reactor was simulated. The grid independence study was first conducted and a grid size of 1.0 mm was adopted in order to minimize the computing time without compromising the accuracy of the results. The predictions were validated by comparing the experimental studies reported in the literature. It was found that all surface tension models can describe the bubble rise and bubble plume in a column with slight deviations.

Key words: Bubble column reactor, Computational fluid dynamics, Volume of fluid method, Surface tension models, Gas distributor

摘要： This work aims at comparing surface tension models in VOF (Volume of Fluid) modeling and investigating the effects of gas distributor and gas velocity. Hydrodynamics of a continuous chain of bubbles inside a bubble column reactor was simulated. The grid independence study was first conducted and a grid size of 1.0 mm was adopted in order to minimize the computing time without compromising the accuracy of the results. The predictions were validated by comparing the experimental studies reported in the literature. It was found that all surface tension models can describe the bubble rise and bubble plume in a column with slight deviations.

关键词: Bubble column reactor, Computational fluid dynamics, Volume of fluid method, Surface tension models, Gas distributor

Qi Liu, Zhenghong Luo. Modeling bubble column reactor with the volume of fluid approach: Comparison of surface tension models[J]. Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering, 2019, 27(11): 2659-2665.

Qi Liu, Zhenghong Luo. Modeling bubble column reactor with the volume of fluid approach: Comparison of surface tension models[J]. 中国化学工程学报, 2019, 27(11): 2659-2665.

References

[1] S. Lain, D. Bröder, M. Sommerfeld, Experimental and numerical studies of the hydrodynamics in a bubble column, Chem. Eng. Sci. 54(1999) 4913-4920.
[2] S. Degaleesan, M. Dudukovic, Y. Pan, Experimental study of gas-induced liquid-flow structures in bubble columns, AIChE J. 47(2001) 1913-1931.
[3] Z. Liu, Y. Zheng, L. Jia, Q. Zhang, Study of bubble induced flow structure using PIV, Chem. Eng. Sci. 60(2005) 3537-3552.
[4] S.S. Rabha, V.V. Buwa, Experimental investigations of rise behavior of monodispersed/polydispersed bubbly flows in quiescent liquids, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 49(2010) 10615-10626.
[5] D.G. Karamanev, Rise of gas bubbles in quiescent liquids, AIChE J. 40(1994) 1418-1421.
[6] E. Delnoij, J.A.M. Kuipers, W.P.M. van Swaaij, Computational fluid dynamics applied to gas-liquid contactors, Chem. Eng. Sci. 52(1997) 3623-3638.
[7] E. Olmos, C. Gentric, C. Vial, G. Wild, N. Midoux, Numerical simulation of multiphase flow in bubble column reactors. Influence of bubble coalescence and break-up, Chem. Eng. Sci. 56(2001) 6359-6365.
[8] J.M. van Baten, R. Krishna, CFD simulations of a bubble column operating in the homogeneous and heterogeneous flow regimes, Chem. Eng. Technol. 25(2002) 1081-1086.
[9] M. Liu, Z. Hu, Studies on the hydrodynamics of chaotic bubbling in a gas-liquid bubble column with a single nozzle, Chem. Eng. Technol. 27(2004) 537-547.
[10] N. Yang, J. Chen, H. Zhao, W. Ge, J. Li, Explorations on the multi-scale flow structure and stability condition in bubble columns, Chem. Eng. Sci. 62(2007) 6978-6991.
[11] N. Yang, J. Chen, W. Ge, J. Li, A conceptual model for analyzing the stability condition and regime transition in bubble columns, Chem. Eng. Sci. 65(2010) 517-526.
[12] N. Yang, Z. Wu, J. Chen, Y. Wang, J. Li, Multi-scale analysis of gas-liquid interaction and CFD simulation of gas-liquid flow in bubble columns, Chem. Eng. Sci. 66(2011) 3212-3222.
[13] A. Sokolichin, G. Eigenberger, A. Lapin, Simulation of buoyancy driven bubbly flow:Established simplifications and open questions, AIChE J. 50(2004) 24-45.
[14] Q. Liu, X.-F. Liang, X.-J. Luo, Z.-H. Luo, A PBM-CFD model with optimized PBMcustomized drag equations for chemisorption of CO₂ in a bubble column, Int. J. Chem. React. Eng. 16(2018).
[15] X. Zhang, G. Ahmadi, Eulerian-Lagrangian simulations of liquid-gas-solid flows in three-phase slurry reactors, Chem. Eng. Sci. 60(2005) 5089-5104.
[16] C. Chen, L.-S. Fan, Discrete simulation of gas-liquid bubble columns and gas-liquidsolid fluidized beds, AIChE J. 50(2004) 288-301.
[17] Y. Li, J. Zhang, L.-S. Fan, Discrete-phase simulation of single bubble rise behavior at elevated pressures in a bubble column, Chem. Eng. Sci. 55(2000) 4597-4609.
[18] Q. Liu, Z.-H. Luo, CFD-VOF-DPM simulations of bubble rising and coalescence in low hold-up particle-liquid suspension systems, Powder Technol. 339(2018) 459-469.
[19] Y. Xu, M. Liu, C. Tang, Three-dimensional CFD-VOF-DPM simulations of effects of low-holdup particles on single-nozzle bubbling behavior in gas-liquid-solid systems, Chem. Eng. J. 222(2013) 292-306.
[20] M. van Sint Annaland, N.G. Deen, J.A.M. Kuipers, Numerical simulation of gas bubbles behaviour using a three-dimensional volume of fluid method, Chem. Eng. Sci. 60(2005) 2999-3011.
[21] M. van Sint Annaland, N.G. Deen, J.A.M. Kuipers, Numerical simulation of gas-liquid-solid flows using a combined front tracking and discrete particle method, Chem. Eng. Sci. 60(2005) 6188-6198.
[22] C.W. Hirt, B.D. Nichols, Volume of fluid (VOF) method for the dynamics of free boundaries, J. Comput. Phys. 39(1981) 201-225.
[23] A. Tomiyama, I. Zun, A. Sou, T. Sakaguchi, Numerical analysis of bubble motion with the VOF method, Nucl. Eng. Des. 141(1993) 69-82.
[24] S.S. Rabha, V.V. Buwa, Volume-of-fluid (VOF) simulations of rise of single/multiple bubbles in sheared liquids, Chem. Eng. Sci. 65(2010) 527-537.
[25] D. Ma, M. Liu, Y. Zu, C. Tang, Two-dimensional volume of fluid simulation studies on single bubble formation and dynamics in bubble columns, Chem. Eng. Sci. 72(2012) 61-77.
[26] Y.J. Zhang, M.Y. Liu, Y.G. Xu, C. Tang, Three-dimensional volume of fluid simulations on bubble formation and dynamics in bubble columns, Chem. Eng. Sci. 73(2012) 55-78.
[27] R. Krishna, J.M. van Baten, Rise characteristics of gas bubbles in a 2D rectangular column:VOF simulations vs experiments, Int. Commun. Heat Mass Transf. 26(1999) 965-974.
[28] M.A. Akhtar, M. Tadé, V. Pareek, Simulations of bubble column reactors using a volume of fluid approach:Effect of air distributor, Can. J. Chem. Eng. 85(2007) 290-301.
[29] K. Sankaranarayanan, S. Sundaresan, Lift force in bubbly suspensions, Chem. Eng. Sci. 57(2002) 3521-3542.
[30] P. Chen, J. Sanyal, M.P. Duduković, Numerical simulation of bubble columns flows:Effect of different breakup and coalescence closures, Chem. Eng. Sci. 60(2005) 1085-1101.
[31] W. Dijkhuizen, E.I.V. van den Hengel, N.G. Deen, M. van Sint Annaland, J.A.M. Kuipers, Numerical investigation of closures for interface forces acting on single air-bubbles in water using volume of fluid and front tracking models, Chem. Eng. Sci. 60(2005) 6169-6175.
[32] W. Dijkhuizen, M. van Sint Annaland, J.A.M. Kuipers, Numerical and experimental investigation of the lift force on single bubbles, Chem. Eng. Sci. 65(2010) 1274-1287.
[33] N.G. Deen, T. Solberg, B.H. Hjertager, Large eddy simulation of the gas-liquid flow in a square cross-sectioned bubble column, Chem. Eng. Sci. 56(2001) 6341-6349.
[34] B.G.M. van Wachem, A.E. Almstedt, Methods for multiphase computational fluid dynamics, Chem. Eng. J. 96(2003) 81-98.
[35] F. Bertola, G. Baldi, D. Marchisio, M. Vanni, Momentum transfer in a swarm of bubbles:Estimates from fluid-dynamic simulations, Chem. Eng. Sci. 59(2004) 5209-5215.
[36] G.M. Cartland Glover, S.C. Generalis, The modelling of buoyancy driven flow in bubble columns, Chem. Eng. Process. Process Intensif. 43(2004) 101-115.
[37] W. Dijkhuizen, I. Roghair, M. Van Sint Annaland, J.A.M. Kuipers, DNS of gas bubbles behaviour using an improved 3D front tracking model-Drag force on isolated bubbles and comparison with experiments, Chem. Eng. Sci. 65(2010) 1415-1426.
[38] J.U. Brackbill, D.B. Kothe, C. Zemach, A continuum method for modeling surface tension, J. Comput. Phys. 100(1992) 335-354.