Numerical Simulation on a Gas Distributor Used In Slurry Column Reactor

Abstract

The slurry column reactor has the most promising prospect in FT synthesis. In this paper, the gas distributor developed for slurry column rector was analyzed to find an improved gas distributor with small energy consumption, good distribution performance and the good characteristics of preventing backflow. A novel gas distributor which is employed in the slurry column reactor was proposed and multiphase flow patterns were numerically studied. The single phase flow patterns of the new slurry column gas distributor were simulated and the smaller preventing-backflow ball was found out. When connect the upper and lower two openings to form one opening, there is lower pressure drop in the gas distributor, unevenness also reduced accordingly. The overall gas holdup was consistent with the experimental data. The performance of the preventing-backflow ball was also studied in this paper. Some design requirements were put forward in order to stroke the liquid flow back.