Model-Based Investigation of the Interaction of Gas-Consuming Reactions and Internal Circulation Flow within Jet Loop Reactors

Abstract

Jet loop reactors are standard multiphase reactors used in chemical, biological and environmental processes. The strong liquid jet provided by a nozzle enforces both internal circulation of liquid and gas as well as entrainment and dispersion of the gas phase. We present a one-dimensional compartment model based on a momentum balance that describes the internal circulation of gas and liquid phase in the jet loop reactor. This model considers the influence of local variations of the gas volume fraction on the internal circulation. These local variations can be caused by coalescence of gas bubbles, additional gas-feeding points and gas consumption or production. In this work, we applied the model to study the influence of a gas-consuming reaction on the internal circulation. In a comprehensive sensitivity analysis, the interaction of different parameters such as rate of reaction, power input through the nozzle, gas holdup, reactor geometry, and circulation rate were investigated. The results show that gas consumption can have a significant impact on internal circulation. Industrially relevant operating conditions have even been found where the internal circulation comes to a complete standstill.

Application and parameterization of a one‐dimensional multifluid population balance model to bubble columns

“…Our recent study on the behavior of gas‐liquid jet loop reactor 3 illustrates well the complex interactions that can occur in reactive multiphase systems. By means of a model, we were able to show that the consumption of gas caused by a reaction in the liquid phase can influence the internal circulation flow of the jet loop reactors significantly.…”

“…The presented modeling approach was applied in this article to describe disperse flow in bubble columns. In principle, even complex (three‐dimensional) internal flow characteristics as they can be found for example in jet loop reactors 3 can be described by this approach. In this case, the reactor must be subdivided into characteristic compartments.…”

“…Many other studies and model approaches can be found in the literature which underline this fact. [4][5][6] Even though our model presented in Breit et al 3 proved to be very useful to gain a better understanding of the behavior of the jet loop reactor, it is far from covering all phenomena that can influence the internal circulation flow and the gas consumption (i.e., the reaction). In fact, many complex interactions of different processes and properties as shown in Figure 1 can be relevant for the general behavior of reactive multiphase systems and must be principally considered in the model.…”

Application and Parameterization of a 1D Multifluid Population Balance Model to Bubble Columns

“…The presented modeling approach was applied in this work to describe disperse flow in bubble columns. In principle, even complex (three-dimensional) internal flow characteristics as they can be found for example in jet loop reactors [3] can be described by this approach. In this case, the reactor must be subdivided into characteristic compartments.…”

“…Even though our model presented in [3] proved to be very useful to gain a better understanding of the behavior of the jet loop reactor, it is far from covering all phenomena that can influence the internal circulation flow and the gas consumption (i.e. the reaction).…”