Hydrodynamics in bubble columns with pin-fin tube internals

Hydrodynamics in a 0.8 m diameter bubble column with pin-fin tube internals covering 9.2% total cross-sectional area of the column is experimentally investigated. The experimental results indicated that pin-fin tube internals significantly affect gas holdup and liquid velocity. It can be inferred from the measured data that the pin fins on the tubes obviously reduce the distributor region in the column. Furthermore, non-uniform arrangement of pin-fin tube internals through symmetrically removing two tubes near column wall gives rise to severe gas short-circuiting and even no downward liquid flow there, while there is imperceptible influence for bubble column with non-uniform plain tube internals.