Solid-liquid mass transfer in a bubble column reactor with tube bank internals

ABSTRACT

Effect of upward two-phase gas-liquid flow on the rate of liquid-solid mass transfer in a bubble column equipped with a horizontal tube bundle was studied by measuring the rate of the diffusion-controlled dissolution of copper in an acidified K₂Cr₂O solution. Variables studied included gas (nitrogen) flow rate, liquid flow rate, and the number of tube arrays. Data were successfully correlated by a dimensionless equation. The presence of surfactants reduced the rate of mass transfer by 3–17% depending on flow rates. The importance of the tube array as a built-in heat exchanger and a catalyst support was highlighted.

KEYWORDS:

• Mass transfer
• bubble column
• reactor internals
• surfactants

Acknowledgments

This work was funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research (DSR), King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah. The authors, therefore, acknowledge with thanks to DSR for technical and financial support.

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Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.