Hydrodynamics of gas-liquid flow in a round-bottom stirred tank is modelled at two gas flow rates, constant bubble size and agitator speed of 300 rpm. A round-bottom tank equipped with four baffles and a Rushton turbine was chosen to represent a typical reactor used in hydrometallurgical processes operating under pressure. The applicability of different momentum interchange models and the Realizable k-ε, SST k-ω, and RSM turbulence models was studied using CFD software. The results were compared and validated against experimental data from Particle Image Velocimetry measurements by means of liquid and gas velocity distributions. In addition, energy balance between power input and dissipation energy was compared for the different turbulence models. The CFD model was found to be in good agreement with the measurements. Of the turbulence models studied, the Realizable k-ε model showed best agreement with the measured velocity profiles. Popular drag force models proposed in the literature were assessed, as was the influence of inclusion of non-drag forces. Gas flow was found to affect the liquid phase flow in the tank by generating an additional secondary circulation loop in the upper part of the reactor.

In order to reveal the gas–liquid two-phase flow pattern of inverted-umbrella aerator, the high-speed photography technology, particle image velocimetry, and Volume of Fluid model are employed to capture the free-surface dynamics and velocity distribution. The Computational Fluid Dynamics simulations are validated by experimental data and the results are in good agreement with experiment. The simulation results of flow field, streamline distribution, velocity distribution, free-surface deformation, and turbulence kinetic energy are analyzed at in time and at radial profiles sampled at several vertical positions. Back surface of each blade revealed the area of low-pressure, which can drag air into water directly from surface and thus enhance liquid aeration and oxygenation capacity. Lifting capacity of the inverted-umbrella aerator is enough to get the liquid at the bottom of the aeration tank accelerated toward liquid surface generating the hydraulic jump. As a result, liquid phase splashes capture portions of air promoting aeration of the solution. A clear circulation whirlpool is formed during the process. The circulation whirlpool starts at the bottom of the impeller moving upward along the plate until the outer edge of the impeller, which is close to the free surface. The circulation whirlpool indicates that the inverted-umbrella aerator plays a significant role in shallow aeration. The turbulence intensity created by the impeller gradually reduces with depth. The position ( z = 0.65 H) is the watershed in the tank. The oxygen mass transfer mainly occurs in the layer above watershed.

No abstract

No abstract

Hydrodynamics of aerated slurry is studied experimentally and numerically using the example of thiosulphate leaching of gold concentrate. The studied milled concentrate has shear-thinning fluid rheology and it was imitated by water-based solutions of CMC. Presence of electrolytes, as in the case of the leaching slurry, has great influence on bubble size distribution. Primary phase flow is measured by Particle Image Velocimetry. Local gas hold-up in aerated CMC 50000 (0.15 w%) solution is measured by Electrical Impedance Tomography. Volumetric mass transfer is measured by dynamic method in different CMC solutions over a range of operational conditions in absence and presence of electrolytes. The experimental data was used in CFD modelling of the aerated slurry. Single phase hydrodynamics of shear-thinning fluid (CMC 50000 (0.15 w%)) have been modelled and validated against experimental data with reasonable agreement. Multiphase mixing of the thiosulphate slurry was modelled with the assumption of constant bubble size. The results of the simulations and measurements are presented and discussed.