Eulerian Approach to CFD Analysis of a Bubble Column Reactor – A Review

Abstract

Bubble Column Reactors (BCR) / Slurry Bubble Column Reactors (SBCR) have many advantageous characteristics as such they are used in numerous industrial applications. This work reviews the Eulerian Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) approach when analysing BCR/ SBCRs. Several studies have been reviewed which vary parameters such as the reactor design, superficial gas velocity, pressure, CFD models (drag, turbulence), particle concentration, and phase material to investigate their effects on the reactor's performance in terms of hydrodynamics or heat transfer. This review indicates that using a Eulerian CFD model can accurately predict the BCR/SBCR's performance. Key findings include that increasing the superficial gas velocity, column pressure, and gas phase density increases the gas holdup. Gas holdup is unevenly distributed in the BCR where most of the gas holdup is in the centre of the column. Increasing solid particles decreases the bubble breakup rate and gas holdup. Furthermore, it was concluded that increasing the superficial gas velocity increases the average slurry temperature and volumetric heat transfer. However, decreasing the column height increases the slurry temperature and volumetric heat transfer.

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“…Volume equation (Abdulrahman, 2019c) Continuity equation in 3D Polar coordinates (r, θ, y) (Harvego, 2006) Momentum equation in 3D Polar coordinates (Harvego, 2006) Energy equation in 3D Polar coordinates (Harvego, 2006) Effective density Drag force (Abdulrahman, 2019c) Interfacial area (Abdulrahman, 2019c) Schiller-Naumann drag equation (Abdulrahman, 2013b) Table 2: Details of equations used in the 3D CFD simulations (Abdulrahman & Nassar, 2023a).…”

“…In examining the direct contact heat transfer within the oxygen reactor, comprehensive investigations were conducted utilizing both experimental and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approaches (Abdulrahman, , 2016e, 2016f, 2016g, 2018(Abdulrahman, , 2020b(Abdulrahman, ,, 2020c(Abdulrahman, , 2022b(Abdulrahman, , 2022c(Abdulrahman, , 2022d(Abdulrahman, , 2023a(Abdulrahman, , 2023b(Abdulrahman, , 2023c. These studies aimed to understand and analyse the heat transfer mechanisms occurring within the reactor, where oxygen gas interacts directly with the other components, such as molten salt or solid particles.…”

“…The three-dimensional model was found to be more accurate for gas holdup in comparison to the two-dimensional model. This information is essential for scaling up bubble column reactors, as gas holdup is a key parameter describing reactor performance Abdulrahman & Nassar, 2023a, 2023b, 2023c.…”

A Three-Dimensional CFD Analyses for the Gas Holdup in a Bubble Column Reactor

“…al. [11]have reviewed the Eulerian approach to CFD analyses for bubble column reactors. Abdulrahman [12][13][14][15][16] has investigated the 2D CFD simulations for the gas holdup, volumetric heat transfer coefficient, gas and slurry temperatures, and the solid concentration of the bubble column reactor.…”

Effect of Static Liquid Height on Gas Holdup of a Bubble Column Reactor

“…Research on bubble column reactors has been done both experimentally and numerically throughout the years. The Eulerian approach to CFD analyses for bubble column reactors has been reviewed by Abdulrahman et al [10]. Abdulrahman [11][12][13][14][15] has examined the results of 2D CFD simulations for the bubble column reactor's gas holdup, volumetric heat transfer coefficient, gas and slurry temperatures, and solid concentration.…”