Modeling of modified airlift loop reactor with a concentric double-draft tube

In this work, mathematical modeling based on the tanks-in-series model was employed to characterize the performance of a novel modified airlift loop reactor. Liquid mixing characteristics, i.e., mixing time and circulation time, were employed to describe the performance of the proposed reactor. These values were determined by using the classical tracer response technique in a column 18.5 cm in diameter and 90 cm in height, and two concentric draft tubes 14 and 8.5 cm in diameter and 80 cm in height. Matlab 7.1 software was used to solve the model equations in the Laplace domain and determine the model parameter. A comparison between the numerical solution and experimental data showed that the applied model can accurately describe the behavior of a modified airlift reactor. Experimental results in the homogeneous bubble flow regime showed that the proposed airlift reactor configuration with a double-draft tube significantly improves the liquid mixing quality compared to a conventional concentric-tube airlift reactor with an identical operating volume. By using this high-performance reactor, the mixing and circulation times can be reduced by up to 48.3% and 35.5%, respectively.