CFD-PBM investigation of the hydrodynamics in a slurry bubble column reactor with a circular gas distributor and heat exchanger tube. (February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Le; Lian, Wenhao; Bai, Bing; Zhao, Yansheng; Li, Peng; Zhang, Qian; Huang, Wei
• Is Part Of: Chemical engineering science. Volume 9(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-02
• Subjects: SBCR -- Euler-Euler approach -- PBM -- Circular heat exchanger tube -- Circular gas distributor; Chemical engineering; Periodicals; 660.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cesx.2020.100087
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2590-1400

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Impacts of annular gas distributor and circular heat exchanger tube were studied. Numerical simulations were carried out with a generic CFD-PBM model. The presence of annular gas distributor induced a stronger circulation flow of slurry. The circular heat exchanger tube intensifies the bimodal distribution of gas holdup. An optimum axial location of the gas distributor with enhanced gas holdup was found. Abstract: In this work, the effects of a circular gas distributor with the opening downward and a circular heat exchanger tube on the hydrodynamics of a pilot-scale slurry bubble column reactor were investigated by employing the CFD-PBM modeling. The simulations indicated that the circular structure of heat exchanger tube leads to a significant gas phase dispersion, inducing a stronger circulation flow of slurry. Different from the traditional perforated plates, the gas holdup profile with the circular gas distributor shows a bimodal structure in the radial direction. Moreover, the circular heat exchanger tube intensifies the bimodal distribution, resulting in a higher gas holdup in the reactor. Increasing the superficial gas velocity was beneficial in improving the whole time-averaged gas holdup. While the increase of the initial loading height of slurry has insignificant effect on the momentum transfer. In addition, proper axial height of the gas distributor is beneficial to enhance gas holdup.