Experimental studies of the transition velocity in a slurry bubble column at high gas temperature of a helium–water–alumina system

•The transition velocity is investigated experimentally in a slurry bubble column reactor.•The transition velocity decreases by increasing the static liquid height.•The transition velocity decreases by increasing the solid concentration.

In this paper, the transition velocity is investigated experimentally for a helium gas at 90 °C injected through a slurry of water at 22 °C and alumina solid particles in a slurry bubble column reactor. This paper examines the effects of superficial gas velocity, static liquid height and solid particles concentration, on the transition velocity of the SBCR. From the experimental work, it is found that the transition velocity between homogeneous and churn turbulent flow regimes, decreases by increasing the static liquid height and/or the solid concentration. It is also found that there is no slug flow regime in the industrial slurry bubble column reactors.