In the present work, a 4-point optical probe was applied to a slurry bubble column to assess the effect of solids on bubble dynamics. All experiments were performed in an 8 inch diameter column operated in the churn turbulent regime. Effect of vertical cooling internals is studied, two different internals configuration 5% and 25% is used. Along with this trayed bubbles column is also used. Air and water were used as gas and liquid medium respectively, and the slurry consisted of either 10% [by weight] aluminum oxide catalyst particles with 60 µm average diameter or glass spheres in the [0.3 mm to 0.35 mm] size range. Local gas hold-up and bubble frequency were reduced in the presence of both solids. However, the bubble velocity increased in presence of aluminum oxide catalyst particles, and is slightly reduced in presence of glass spheres. The volumetric mass transfer coefficient was lower in the presence of aluminum oxide catalyst particles, and a slight reduction in the gas-liquid interfacial area was also observed.

Key Words: Slurry bubble column, Gas hold-up, Bubble velocity, Gas-liquid interfacial area, Volumetric mass transfer coefficient.