Effect of surfactants on gas holdup of two-phase bubble columns

Conference · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:5509333

Estevez, L A ^[1]; Saez, E ^[2]; Pachino, J; Cavicchioli, I ^[3]

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1. Univ. of Puerto Rico, Dept. of Chemical Engineering (US)
2. Univ. Simon Bolivar, Dept. de Termodinamica
3. INTEVEP, S. A., Caracas (VE)

Two-phase experiments have been carried out using organic liquids with a surfactant and air in a bubble column 30 (cm) inside diameter and 3 (m) tall. Under the presence of the surfactant, two distinct regions are observed: a bubbling region is the lower part, and a froth zone in the upper part of the column. Intrinsic gas holdups were measured in each region. Results showed that intrinsic gas holdup did not change significantly with surfactant concentration. However, the position of the limiting surface separating the two regions varied considerably with surfactant concentration, thus affecting strongly the overall gas holdup. Based on the described experimental observations, correlations for intrinsic and overall gas holdups have been proposed. Intrinsic gas holdups have been correlated and a function of gas and liquid superficial velocities, and not as functions of surfactant concentration. Overall gas holdups have been expressed in terms of intrinsic gas holdup and of the fraction PHI of the column that is occupied by the froth region. The variable PHI is the one that has been correlated in terms of the surfactant concentration.

• OSTI ID: 5509333
• Report Number(s): CONF-880348--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
023000* -- Petroleum-- Properties & Composition
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400201 -- Chemical & Physicochemical Properties
AIR FLOW
BUBBLE GROWTH
CALCULATION METHODS
FLUID FLOW
FLUID MECHANICS
GAS FLOW
HYDRODYNAMICS
MECHANICS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
SURFACTANTS