Gas–liquid mass transfer in a slurry bubble column operated at gas hydrate forming conditions

Gas–liquid interphase mass transfer was investigated in a slurry bubble column under CO2CO2 hydrate forming operating conditions. Modeling gas hydrate formation requires knowledge of mass transfer and the hydrodynamics of the system. The pressure was varied from 0.1 to 4 MPa and the temperature from ambient to 277 K while the superficial gas velocity reached 0.20 m/s. Wettable ion-exchange resin particles were used to simulate the CO2CO2 hydrate physical properties affecting the system hydrodynamics. The slurry concentration was varied up to 10%vol. The volumetric mass transfer coefficient (klal)(klal) followed the trend in gas holdup which rises with increasing superficial gas velocity and pressure. However, klalklal and gas holdup both decreased with decreasing temperature, with the former being more sensitive. The effect of solid concentration on klalklal and gas holdup was insignificant in the experimental range studied. Both hydrodynamic and transport data were compared to best available correlations.