In this study, three-dimensional numerical simulation of gas-liquid flow in bubble columns was realized by using the computation fluid dynamics (CFD)population balance model (PBM). The new drag model improves the stabilityconstrained multi-fluid (SCMF-C) model because of the consideration of the wake accelerating and the hindering effects for calculating the drag correction factor. The gas holdup, axial liquid velocity, and bubble size distribution (BSD) predicted by four drag models at 0.02 and 0.1 m/s were compared. The results revealed that the proposed drag model can provide excellent predictions for both bubbly and heterogeneous flows. Because the wake accelerating and the hindering effects were considered, reliable predictions were achieved for the gas holdup, and the problem of uniform gas holdup distribution was mitigated.

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