EFFECT OF GAS DISTRIBUTORS ON HOLDUP AND FLOW PATTERN IN BUBBLE COLUMNS.
Abstract
The effect of gas distributor on holdup and flow pattern was studied in bubble, bubble-slug and churn-slug flow patterns. Holdup increased linearly with superficial gas velocity and dropped suddenly at the transition due to coalescence of bubbles. The bubble to bubble slug transition occurred between 0. 054 and 0. 085 m/s depending upon the gas distributor. The gas holdup at the transition ranged between 0. 2 and 0. 33 for different gas distributors. Holdup increased with increase in pore size and distributor thickness in bubble flow. Distributor plates with hydrophobic characteristics gave higher holdup than with hydrophilic characteristics. Polypropylene with hydrophilic characteristics gave higher holdup than polyethylene with hydrophilic characteristics.