CFD-PBM simulation of bubble columns: Effect of parameters in the class method for solving PBEs. (23rd November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Xi-Bao; Zheng, Ru-Qiu; Luo, Zheng-Hong
• Is Part Of: Chemical engineering science. Volume 226(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-11-23
• Subjects: Bubble column -- Class method -- CFD-PBM -- Gas-liquid -- Optimum scheme; Chemical engineering -- Periodicals; Génie chimique -- Périodiques; Chemical engineering; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 660
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2020.115853
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-2509

Abstract

Highlights: Effects of the parameters in CM for solving PBEs on simulation of bubble columns. The effect of volume ratio is small when it is smaller than 2.9. The simulations cannot be obviously improved by inhomogeneous class method. The appropriate values of the parameters in CM for simulations are proposed. Abstract: The class method (CM) has been frequently applied in solving population balance equations (PBEs) for the CFD-PBM simulation of bubble columns. There are four parameters in the CM: the volume ratio between successive bubble classes (rv ), the minimum diameter (dmin ), the maximum diameter (dmax ) and the critical diameter (dc ) that is used to distinguish small bubbles and large bubbles. These parameters have a significant impact on the computational precision and efficiency. In this work, numerical simulations are performed to investigate the effects of these parameters on the simulation of two typical bubble columns operated at heterogeneous regime. The simulation results quantitatively present the influences of these parameters on the simulated local gas holdup and global bubble size distribution. The simulated radial profiles of gas holdup at different heights are compared with experimental data. The optimized scheme for the values of these parameters in the CM is proposed.