Backmixing and heat transfer coefficients in bubble columns using aqueous glycerol solutions

Journal Article · Fri Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1982 · AIChE Symp. Ser.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5364597

Knickle, H N; Holcombe, N T; O'Dowd, W; Smith, D N

Nonisothermal bubble column experiments have been performed to determine the effect of gas and liquid velocities on steady-state viscous cocurrent upflow. Aqueous solutions of glycerol and water were used with nitrogen at 5.1 atmospheres to determine backmixing and heat transfer coefficients in a 0.078-m-diameter, 1.68-m-high bubble column. Superficial gas velocity ranged from a low of 0.0121 m/s to 0.364 m/s, and liquid superficial velocity from 0.000835 m/s to 0.0121 m/s. Nonlinear regression was used to determine the best fit for these coefficients. The backmixing coefficient varied inversely with liquid viscosity to the 0.21 power. Two regions were examined for the heat transfer coefficients depending on whether the superficial gas velocity was greater or less than 0.1 m/sec. In the lower velocity range, the heat transfer coefficient varied inversely with viscosity to the 0.25 power; and in the higher range, inversely to the 0.18 power. In the lower range the heat transfer coefficient varied directly with liquid velocity to the 0.18 power; and in the higher range, to the 0.35 power. It is thought that this marked variation with liquid velocity is due to the importance of the increased turbulence of the liquid in this viscous system.

• Research Organization: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI
• OSTI ID: 5364597
• Journal Information: AIChE Symp. Ser.; (United States), Journal Name: AIChE Symp. Ser.; (United States) Vol. 79:225; ISSN ACSSC
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420400* -- Engineering-- Heat Transfer & Fluid Flow
ALCOHOLS
AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
DIRECT CONTACT HEAT EXCHANGERS
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY TRANSFER
EXTRACTION APPARATUSES
EXTRACTION COLUMNS
FLUID FLOW
GAS FLOW
GLYCEROL
HEAT EXCHANGERS
HEAT TRANSFER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
MATHEMATICS
MIXING
MIXTURES
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
REGRESSION ANALYSIS
SEPARATION EQUIPMENT
SOLUTIONS
STATISTICS
STEADY-STATE CONDITIONS
VELOCITY
WATER