(478e) Impact of Internals On the Heat Transfer Rate and Coefficient in a Bubble Column

The effect of internals that mimic the heat exchanging tubes on the heat transfer rate and coefficient has been investigated in a 0.19 m diameter bubble column with and without internals. Air-water system was used with superficial gas velocities ranging from 3 to 20 cm/s which cover both the homogenous and heterogeneous flow regimes. Internals occluding 0% (empty column), 5% (simulating methanol synthesis) and 22% (simulating Fisher-Tropsch synthesis) of column cross-sectional area were implemented to quantify their effects on heat transfer coefficient. An advanced heat transfer probe technique was utilized to measure radial profile of the heat transfer rate and coefficient in the column. Experiments results indicate that the presence of high percentage of internals causes an increase in the heat transfer coefficient. Also, heat transfer coefficient increases as superficial gas velocity increased. The heat transfer coefficients in the column center for all the conditions studied are larger than those near the wall of the column.