(234aa) Radioactive Particle Tracking (RPT) Techniquefor Pilot-Scale Bubble Column

Laith S. Sabri*1, Abbas J. Sultan*2, Muthanna H. Al-Dahhan*3

*Multiphase Reactors and Applications Laboratory (mReal). Department of Chemical and Biochemical

Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO 65409-1230. USA

1lssf25@mst.edu, 2ajshw9@mst.edu, 3aldahhanm@mst.edu,

Abstract

The multiphase flow reactors are extensively used in chemical and biochemical industries. Where perfect mixing and ideal mass and heat transfer are importance. In this work, pilot plant scale of bubble column reactor was used for air-water system. The local hydrodynamics can considerably affect the reactor conduct. Due to the local hydrodynamics parameters are the main factor for multiphase reactor design. Consequently, effective reactor design and successful scale-up require a suitable understanding of the local hydrodynamics for multiphase flow through the reactor running stages. Unfortunately, these parameters need to be further developed and evaluated to account of 3D flow field in each position inside the reactor in industry scale (pilot plant) which is unclear yet and need more information for deeply understanding. Therefore, In our laboratory (Multiphase Reactors and Applications Laboratory MReal), an advanced diagnostic techniques for industrial scale have been well established and used extensively for monitoring the flow field in a non-invasive manner in opaque multiphase pilot plant reactor systems in column diameter 18-inch (0.46 m) Plexiglas reactor with height 144 inches (3.66m). A non-invasive advanced measurement technique called Radioactive particle tracking (RPT) (see Figure 1) for large scale columns has been implemented to provide detailed and in 3D hydrodynamic parameters (velocity components, turbulent parameters, shear stresses, normal stresses, kinetic energy, and eddy diffusivity). For present study, quantifies of the flow characterization in the time series of lagrangian tracer particle trajectory are available for fluctuating liquid velocity fields at various superficial gas velocities (10 and 45 cm/sec). As a conclusion, the experimental results provide benchmark data for simulation, design, scale-up, and performance of the pilot plant scale bubble column reactors. The experimental results and conclusions will present at the conference.

Figure 1. Radioactive Particle Tracking (RPT) Technique for Pilot-Scale of Multiphase flow system