Hydrodynamics of gas-liquid co-current flow through a thin sheet of highly porous open cell solid foam. (23rd November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Busser, Thomas; Serres, Marion; Philippe, Régis; Vidal, Valérie
• Is Part Of: Chemical engineering science. Volume 226(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-11-23
• Subjects: Hydrodynamics -- Multiphase flows -- Porous medium -- Open cell solid foam; Chemical engineering -- Periodicals; Génie chimique -- Périodiques; Chemical engineering; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 660
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2020.115811
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-2509

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Multiphase flows in confined (quasi-2D) open cell solid foams (OCSF) exhibit different hydrodynamic regimes. New quantities based on direct visualization are introduced to quantify the flow regimes. The low activity regime consists of small bubbles and chimneys. The high activity regime is characterized by larger bubbles. The pseudo-trickling flow is only observed for the horizontal, co-current gas-liquid flow. Abstract: An experimental study of the hydrodynamics of a gas-liquid co-current flow inside a thin sheet of Open Cell Solid Foam (OCSF) confined in a plate reactor is proposed. Image processing is used to quantify the flow patterns when varying the gas and liquid flow rates and buoyancy (horizontal and vertical upflow). The fraction of joint flow and interface motion areas, respectively ε m and ε i, are defined as relevant quantities to characterize the different flow regimes and phases interaction. Two distinct regimes are observed for the vertical flow: the low (LA) and high (HA) activity regimes characterized by a low or high phases interaction. In the horizontal configuration, an additional regime is observed and is called pseudo-trickling (PT) regime due to its similarity with the trickling regime observed in vertical downflow packed beds. The transition between LA and HA regimes is compared to the regime transition in trickle beds.