Hydrodynamics and mass transfer characteristics in an internal loop airlift reactor with sieve plates

•Effects of the sieve plate on the hydrodynamics in an airlift reactor are investigated.•The sieve plate can enhance gas holdup and mass transfer coefficient.•The larger sieve pore is more helpful to improve the mass transfer efficiency.•The optimal free area ratio is determined for a given sieve pore diameter.•Empirical correlations are proposed to predict hydrodynamic parameters.

Effects of the sieve plate on hydrodynamics and mass transfer in an annulus sparged airlift reactor (0.08 m3, 1.3 m tall, and 0.284 m in diameter) were investigated. It is found that the sieve plate can significantly enhance gas holdup and volumetric mass transfer coefficient. The sieve pore plays an important role in breaking up bubbles. With a given free area ratio, the sieve plate with a larger sieve pore diameter is more efficient in increasing the volumetric mass transfer coefficient. Four different free area ratios between 37% and 73% are tested, and then an optimal free area ratio is determined. The effect of the sieve plate is found to be related to sparger types. The sieve plate leads to a larger increase of volumetric mass transfer coefficient with the O-ring distributor as compared to the 4-orifice nozzle. Empirical correlations and a hydrodynamic model are proposed to predict gas holdup, volumetric mass transfer coefficient and liquid velocity in airlift reactors with sieve plates.