Bubble Column Fluid Dynamics

Dear Colleagues,

Bubble columns are widely used multiphase reactors where a gas phase is dispersed into a continuous phase. The simplest configuration consists in a vertical cylinder, in which the gas enters through a gas sparger located at the bottom, and the liquid phase is supplied in the batch mode or it may be led in either co-currently or counter-currently to the upward gas stream. Despite the simple column arrangement, bubble columns are characterized by extremely complex fluid dynamic interactions between the phases. For these reasons, their correct design, operation and scale-up rely on the knowledge of the fluid dynamics at “bubble-scale” and at the “reactor-scale”.

An understanding of the fluid dynamics and the transport phenomena in bubble columns (in the homogeneous and heterogeneous flow regimes) is of fundamental importance to support the design and scale-up methods. In this respect, multiphase Computational Fluid-Dynamics (CFD) simulations are particularly useful to study the fluid dynamics in large-scale reactors. Reliable predictions of the homogeneous flow regime with this approach are, however, limited up to now. One important drawback concern the closure models for the interphase forces, turbulence and coalescence and break-up. One difficulty for the model development and validation results from the fact that we still have a lack of knowledge on local phenomena which determine the two-phase flow characteristics and which should be considered in the closure models. To this end, experimental data with high resolution in space and time are requested.

The Special Issue aims to collect contributions of the state-of-the-art on the multi-scale fluid dynamics of bubble columns. The main focus of the volume is on bubble column fluid dynamics without and with mass transfer by using theoretical, experimental, and numerical modeling approaches. Contributions concerning (a) bubble size and shapes and (b) flow regime transition prediction and modeling are strongly encouraged.

Dr. Giorgio Besagni
Dr. Thomas Ziegenhein
Guest Editors

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