Hydrodynamics of Airlift Reactor with Internal Circulation Loop: Experiment vs. CFD Simulation

Effect of geometrical parameters on two phase hydrodynamics of airlift reactor is the main topic of present paper. Laboratory scale apparatus with internal circulation loop consists of concentric draft tube, in which a gas bubbles rising. Setup of draft tube inside of reactor is important geometry parameter and has big influence on two phase hydrodynamics. In experiment was studied influence of changes diameter of draft tube to hydrodynamics in airlift reactor. Results of experiments (liquid velocity and gas hold-up) were compared with the simple CFD simulations performed in COMSOL Multiphysics 3.5a. For each point of gas volumetric flow in simulation, were determined conditions of bubble diameter and bubble drag coefficient. Although bubble break-up and coalescence were neglected, the results of numerical simulation are in pretty good agreement with experimental data.