Prediction of bubble size and axial position distribution through hybridization of population balance modelling and dynamic gas disengagement

Validation was achieved through comparison of the macro-properties that can be determined from the resolved BNDD. Such properties include the axial distributions of Sauter Mean Bubble Diameter (SMBD), gas holdups, and the volumetric gas-liquid mass transfer rates of the steady-state bubble population swarming. The comparison of predicted hydrodynamic parameters with two literature results yielded R-squares of 0.88 and 0.82, Chi-squares of 0.86 and 1.08 and f-statistics of 35.96 and 27.24 indicating good agreement. It is therefore proposed that hybridization of the PBM and DGD process yielded a high spatial prediction of the Size and Axial Distribution (SAD) of bubble dispersion and the bubble coalescence and breakage rates even though ERT offers a relatively low spatial resolution.