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I. pp. 2221-2226,
1992.
A METHOD COEFFICIENTS
FOR EVALUATION OF MASS TRANSFER IN THE DIFFERENT REGIONS OF AIR LIFT REACTORS
J.C. Merchuk, G. Osemberg, M. Siegel and M. Shacham Department of Chemical Engineering and Program of Biotechnology, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 84105, Israel
Abstract
The present state of the art in the experimental coeftfticientin Air Lift Reactors is reviewed. determination of mass transfer verified. For A criterion which allows to decide whether the
assumption of perfect mixing of the liquid phase is valid was experimentally Kt_a in each of the regions of the reactor (riser, downcomer Key Words: Air Lift, Mass Transfer Rate, Structured
the cases where such assumption does not hold, a new method that renders local values of and gas separator) is presented. Model The model is based on a fluid dynamic structured model of the system.
Introduction
Air lift reactors (ALR) Most of researchers present a unique problem from the stand point of determination chosen the unsteady-state gassing-in method for KLa and of the mass transfer coefficient, KLa. have determination. Probe response dynamics can influence the KLa calculations when the value KLa is equal to or greater than the inverse of the electrode 1985). Furthermore, the mass transfer coefficient that it behaves based on the assumption response time (Linek data Sinukle, usually composed for air lift reactors is is made
that the entire air lift reactor behaves like an ideal stirred tank reactor. Verlaan, ( 1987) has shown however that mixing in the air lift rector near plug-slow in the riser and to the overall downcomer, volume is different for the different sections, being nut! fairly well-mixed in the gas-liquid the mixing in the
separator. Fields and Slater (1988), and IMerchuk and Yunger- ( 1980) have shown that gasseparator volume reactor. of the reactor will influence As a consequence of this KLa (and its measurement) in air lift reactors will be in air Such
affected by the reactor height and the gas-liquid separator design. Ideally, the solution to the problem of measurement of mass transfer behavior lift reactors would be to determine the mass transfer rates in the individual sections. a method has been proposed by Merchuk and Siegel, (1938). to present evaluation the liquid phase(Andre et al.. 1983). For the case where
acceptable, LL new method, based on a structured model of the air lift reactor is presented.
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et al.
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ExDerimentnI
Studies data reported for air lift reactors has been based on a gassing-in were conducted using both of these methods method using sodium sulfite
Most of the KLa phase flow. et al. (1986). dissolved was changed
dynamic step change method of nitrogen to air, with or without an interruption of the gas Experiments A dynamic to enable mixing oxygen
in a 200 liter
to remove the
laboratory reactor Detailed description of the experimental equipment can be seen in Siegel deoxygenation changes oxygen during continuous aeration was also studied. in gas disengagement, regime time, and flow concentration in the reactor The gas-liquid changing (Siegel separator the gas
therefore
experimental reactor therefore operated like either an internal or external loop air lift mactor. was measured simultaneously risers exit. _SOcm from downcomers entrance with near complete gas disengagement carry-over Opened, flow. 17 seconds. determined into the downcomer. and 30 cm from downcomers exit. to an external loop reactor when operated separator so that there is little gas the gas-liquid separator was horizontal
in the gas-liquid
that is, the region was enlarged to allow for a zone of two-phase The choice of the method: interrupted or uninterrupted in the exxperiments. Also, similar concentration values. with a power
The mean circulation time for the range of gas flow rates studied was approximately nitrogen to air step made insignificant difference in the value of KLa versus time curves were Figure liquid Curves 1 presents typical (PNL) obtained of 0.15 using reactor
measured by al1 three probes, and therefore similar KLa curves for uninterrupted kW/m3 (riser superficial step change, gas velocity, dimensionless
per volume
uninterrupted step change, and sodium sulfite degassing gave completely Figure conftguration to be affected 2 shows typical
similar results.
for uninterrupted step change with a P/VL 0.176 kW/m3 ( JG of 3.4 cm/set). by probe location and gas distribution in the reactor. In this mode of with
Both nitrogen to air step change methods and sodium sulfite degassing method were found operation, bubbles tend to accumulate and stratify in the duwncomer, up in the upper regions approximately 42 seconds of this secztion. The dcpcb of the
hub~~le:
increasing gas flow rate. Liquid velocity is relativcfy low, with a mean circulation time of for the gas tlow rates studied. measurement Hence the deviation of the values measured by there should be If the perfectly mixed model is valid for the liquid phase, then KLa
should not be affected by probe location. the different probes is a measure little difference in the KLa a hydrodynamic correct. by Andre u
steady and the assumptions of perfectly mixed liquid and gas phases are 1983. A single parameter g is calculated fi = l&t, KLaj as the ratio of the characteristic (1)
To test this assumption, we used a criterion similar to the one that was proposed
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long to this
safely use models assuming perfect liquid mixing ( Andre & to divide of perfect assumption is incorrect). Table experimental However, value and
1 compares the experiments represented in Figures 3-8, for all three probes. In gas-liquid separator gas-liquid the standard deviation is small, within error. The large p value indicates high standard deviation that perfect liquid mixing can be assumed. separator, the reverse is true (i.e., low p deviation from the perfect mixing
) indicating
assumption.
later case, a more sophisticated, structured reactor model would be more appropriate.
represented by two coupled partial differential equations describing following Variation superimposed axial dispersion.
of hydrostatic pressure along the reactor axis s tanks for in the equations as hydrodynamic
are taken into account. The gas separator is represented by a series of well-mixed the liquid, and disengagement describing parameter. the gas. of the gas after each stage is considered the number of stages serves In this section,
Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of the model used for the simulation of the ALR. The model assumes that each of the hydrodynamic and that the oxygen regions electrodes of the reactor has a have a first order different response. Figure 4 shows tyPica representation respectively, electrodes downcomer comparing results of the simul;ition !)r:)grdui: the two top graphs area a of oxygen from conchtilltt ;Ltion in the liquid to air. The simulated and gas phases, readings from nitrogen of the behavior mass transfer coefficient,
located
of the riser, the top of the riser and the top of the results shown in Fig. 2.When that the electrode was the issue the spatial the lag time. This is because of KLa (which
It can be seen that the shape of the different curves that would
be obtained at different locations resemble the experimental responces in Fig. 1 have been shifted in order to eliminate when complete liquid mixing is assumed in the calculation being tested), lag time is not considered. distribution of oxygen concentration axial length of the downcomer
eu
W:S/ll-tl
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separator. reached.
of the experimental
In this case the shapes of the curves are very similar also. to obtain experimental The procedure of the ALR by fitting readings
These
on the boundary
those regions.
ratio and the mass transfer of the objective function equations, which
coefficients
the simultaneous
A criterion for predicting the validity of the assumption calculation of Kt_a values for an ALR has been experimentally assumption approach justify the use of this criterion. For cases where the perfect mixing KLa values obtained using the proposed
of perfect
liquid mixing
for
more accurately than the single value obtained based on the perfect mixing assumption. Notation concentration (mg/l) FG
KLa
riser superficial gas velocity mass transfer coefficient time circulation time gas recirculation ratio perfect mixing pal=meter <I?+( I)) Andre Fields, Linek, Young, G., Kobinson V., C.W. and Moo-Young, 1983, Cbem. 1%. M. Chem. Eng. Sci., 38, 1845 Vol. 4, (Moo-
:,
a
B 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
References P.R. and Slater, N.K.H., and Sinukle, M., Robinson C.W. Eng. Sci., 33,647. Biotechnology, Pergamon Bioeng., Eng. 64, 57 22, 1189. 41,105. Biotechnol., 32,1585. Press, Oxford.
J. C., and Heshkiwitz J.C., Stein Y. and J-C., and Siegel, J.C., and Yunger, Merchuk M.H.,
Can. J. Chem.
Eng. Sci.,
45, 2973-2975,.
M.H.,
J-C.. Schugerl,
Eng. Sci.,44,1139
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TABLE 1: ComDarison of Methods and Probe Location KLa( 1/hr) tc (set) P Separator 3.98 16.2 55.8 Opened 0.82 41.1 106.1 Closed
1 .O 0.9 & 0.8 -t x -0 0.8 0.7 CLOSED
u; 0.6 0 0.5 z q 0 PROBE 1 BE _ * PRO-_ 2 A PROBE 3 I I 75 100125150 TIME (SEC) I I 1752 2 0.4 0.2 0.1 0.0 0 PROBE 1 l PROBE 2 A PROBE 3 25 50 100 125 75 TIME (SEC) 150 175
0 0.3
::
-+--t---t---+--l
25
50
Figure 2-Clcwcd gas .scpantor, 200-liter ALR . Probe I -Top or the riser: Probe 2Top 4. the drnvncomer; Prrrbe 3-Bottom.
Gas Out
gas
Fipure 3- Schemntic rcprcsentatic>n of the nuid-dynamically structured mtdcl. The equations represent the transient behwinr. EZquatir~ns for the same phase in diffcrcnt regions are connected by the boundary conditions.
* I
Y
DOWNCOMER
RISER
Co-current upf low *Axial Dispersion In bothphases *(kLa) riser
(kLa)
Gas In
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8 l--
-------l
0.25
Simulntion rcsulta. Top figures xc tcmponl prorilcs prcdiclcd at the bottom d the downcomcr (I). the lop in the liquid phase; Top right-Idem in o1 the riser (2) and the gas separator. Top Icl t-O.xygen ccmcenlmlion the gas phase.Bottnm figures zwe aputial proriles predicted al six points ol lime after a slcp off c>sygen concentration at the gas inlet. Proiilcs corrcspond, I rom bottom lo top, lo 10.20.30.40.50 and 60 s t-Oxygen conccntntions in the liquid phase: Bottom right-Idcm in the gas scpztntor. rcspcctivcly. Bottom lrl
40
I,
hl,IZ.
Sitiiul;lfiotl 1
J 1 ..~~,__~_.-~---.~-~-~----in
1t see)
.l .
I (set)
I0
Ml
Fieurc 5-Comparison of simulated (Ml) and cxpcrimcntal (righl) profiles of oxygen in the 40-liter ALR. Jr,= 0.017 m/s; Simulation wzis done with: KLat=0.U75 I/s ; KLad=O.MO l/s ; KLa&~.0401/s ; a = 0.15