Gas–Liquid Swirling-Sparger Configured along a Toroidal Distributor for the Intensification of Gas–Liquid Contacting

Abstract

A gas–liquid swirling-sparger (GLSS) configured along a toroidal distributor was developed based on swirling flow to enhance the efficiency of gas–liquid contacting. Gas–liquid contacting was visualized using a high-speed camera, the gas–liquid mass transfer coefficient was estimated through oxygen absorption experiments, and the hydrodynamic performance and bubble size distribution were analyzed. The results show that the continuous gas phase breaks into microbubbles under shearing action and pressure fluctuation caused by the three-dimensional strong turbulent flow in the GLSS; the bubble diameter distribution was unimodal with a median diameter (d 50) of 625 μm, and the oxygen absorption efficiency of the GLSS exceeded 70%. A general discrete model was developed for evaluating flow uniformity in parallel multiple GLSSs along a toroidal distributor. The experimental results were in good agreement with the theoretical calculations. The study is important for optimizing the use of gas–liquid contactors in engineering applications.

Microbubble Dispersion Process Intensification Using Novel Internal Baffles

“…The pressure gradient force and shear force improve the bubble deformation and breakup . In the swirl flow bubble generator, the bubble generation is located at the nozzle outlet because of the fluid shear effect Figure displays the pressure gradient (d P /d z ) across the gas–liquid interface with double vertical baffle (c).…”

“…49 In the swirl flow bubble generator, the bubble generation is located at the nozzle outlet 5 because of the fluid shear effect. 12 Figure 13 displays the pressure gradient (dP/dz) across the gas−liquid interface with double vertical baffle (c). An iso-surface with a gas hold-up of 0.5 was set as the gas−liquid interface.…”

“…The typical swirl flow microbubble generator consists of a vortex chamber and nozzle. The bubble breakup and generation result from the fluid shear force, which is related to the tangential velocity in the vortex chamber and jet velocity at the nozzle outlet . The swirl flow can generate a higher turbulent dissipation rate than the conventional venturi microbubble generator .…”

Chemical effects induced by gas–liquid jet flow

“…The renewal of the gas–liquid interface is also speeded up remarkably, thus significantly improving the heat- and mass-transfer rates. 2,10,11 Therefore, gas–liquid jet flow has been proposed as an efficient chemical process intensification (PI) technology, such as for intensifying CO 2 capture in microchannel reactors. 12…”