CFD simulation of a slurry bubble column: Effect of population balance kernels

Present and Future Perspectives of Liquid-Phase Slurry Processes Involved in Methanol and Dimethyl Ether Synthesis Using Biomass-Derived Syngas

“…The interaction forces between three phases are strongly influenced by the bubble dynamics: bubble size, breakup and coalescence, liquid viscosity, and catalyst concentration. Until now, the CFD models: Euler–Euler (three-phase) models, − discrete particle model, , and population balance model, − ,,, have been applied to simulate the three-phase slurry flow.…”

“…Most slurry bubble columns are designed using one-dimensional (1D) mathematical models with empirical correlations of the gas volume fraction , and other fluid dynamic characteristics assuming a uniform solid (catalyst) concentration in the reactor assuming a single pseudo-homogeneous slurry phase ,− and a more advanced kinetic granular flow theory (KTGF) to model solid pressure and solid viscosity. , The majority of the Eulerian three-phase CFD simulations were carried out for a small-scale SBCR with air–water–glass particle systems at ambient pressures and temperatures, − but it is unclear if those CFD models can accurately predict flow dynamics in a large-scale SBCR operating under dense flow conditions, as applied in MeOH synthesis. ,− To characterize the SBCRs, it appears that the inclusion of the population balance model (PBM) in the existing CFD models appears to be more capable for describing the dynamics of multiple bubbles of non-uniform size in the heterogeneous regime. ,, Numerical modeling for MeOH synthesis was mostly carried out to investigate the kinetics and heat and mass transfers, ,, but CFD simulations for hydrodynamic characterization for such a SBCR were attempted only limitedly. ,,, A few examples of recent publications on selective experiments and CFD studies for liquid-phase methanol/DME synthesis via syngas are described in Table . Gidaspow et al described the kinetic theory for granular solids for modeling the granular catalysts in three-phase slurry hydrodynamics.…”

“…165,182−185 To characterize the SBCRs, it appears that the inclusion of the population balance model (PBM) in the existing CFD models appears to be more capable for describing the dynamics of multiple bubbles of non-uniform size in the heterogeneous regime. 161,170,186 Numerical modeling for MeOH synthesis was mostly carried out to investigate the kinetics and heat and mass transfers, 162,187,188 but CFD simulations for hydrodynamic characterization for such a SBCR were attempted only limitedly. 162,178,186,189 A few examples of recent publications on selective experiments and CFD studies for liquid-phase methanol/DME synthesis via syngas are described in Table 10.…”

Heavy and light inertial particle aggregates in homogeneous isotropic turbulence: A study on breakup and stress statistics

“…On the macro-scale (i.e., the scale of the equipment), where flow field heterogeneities and boundary layer phenomena affect the evolution of the dispersed phase, so called Eulerian-Eulerian approaches, especially when coupled with population balance models (Marchisio et al, 2006), are of particular interest, as they can be conveniently used to promptly compute the breakup dynamics and the particle size distribution. By such an approach a number of systems of practical relevance have been investigated, such as emulsions (Lebaz et al, 2021), bubbly flows (Syed et al, 2018;Zhang et al, 2021;Maluta et al, 2021;Lehnigk et al, 2022) and particle synthesis processes (Schikarski et al, 2022). However, despite the wide range of applications, such approaches still rely on empirical correlations, generally assuming a single phenomenon (e.g.…”

Modeling of solid-particle effects on bubble breakage and coalescence in slurry bubble columns

“…However, the authors also state that further verification is needed for other systems and operating points. Syed et al (2018) applied different combinations of breakup and coalescence models in slurry bubble column simulations with solid-particle concentrations up to s c = 14 vol% and found the limitations of the models especially at a high superficial gas velocity g U = 0.08 m/s. Zhou et al (2017) introduced a factor to reduce the drag between the bubbles and the liquid-phase when solid particles are present similar to a swarm correction.…”