Hydrodynamics of a three-phase fixed-bed reactor operating in the pulsing flow regime at an elevated pressure

Abstract Results are presented for a three-phase reactor operating at an elevated pressure in the pulsing flow regime. For the system air–water and pressures of 0.1– 0.9 MPa lines are determined that define the change of the hydrodynamic model from the gas continuous flow regime (GCF) to the pulsing flow regime (PF). Also, parameters are found that characterize the pulsing flow of fluids, namely the velocity of pulses travelling along the bed, the frequency of pulsations and their structure, i.e., the length of the pulses and that of the liquid-rich zone.

Kinetics of Cometabolic Biodegradation of 4-Chlorophenol and Phenol by Stenotrophomonas Maltophilia KB2

The cometabolic biodegradation of 4-Chlorophenol (4-CP) by the Stenotrophomonas maltophilia KB2 strain in the presence of phenol (P) was studied. In order to determine the kinetics of biodegradation of both substrates, present alone and in cometabolic systems, a series of tests was carried out in a batch reactor changing, in a wide range, the initial concentration of both substrates. The growth of the tested strain on phenol alone was described by Haldane kinetic model (mm = 0:9 1/h, Ksg = 48:97 gg/m3, KIg = 256:12 gg/m3, Yxg = 0:5715). The rate of 4-CP transformation by resting cells of KB2 strain was also described by Haldane equation and the estimated parameters of the model were: kc = 0…

Hydrodynamics of a Pressurised Three-phase Fixed-Bed Reactor, Operating in the Pulsing Flow Regime

Kinetics of vinyl acetate biodegradation by Pseudomonas fluorescens PCM 2123

Abstract The microbial degradation of vinyl acetate (VA) by Pseudomonas fluorescens PCM 2123 strain was studied in both batch and continuous modes. The purpose of the experiments was to determine the kinetic model of the cell growth and biodegradation rate of vinyl acetate (VA), which was the sole carbon and energy source for tested microorganisms. The experiments, carried out in a batch reactor for several initial concentrations of growth substrate in the liquid phase ranging from 18.6 to 373 gsubstrate·m−3 (gs·m−3) made it possible to choose the kinetic model and to estimate its constants. The Haldane inhibitory model with the values of constants: μm = 0.1202 h−1, KS = 17.195 gs·m−3, Ki =…

Conical Two-Phase Swirl Flow Atomizers—Numerical and Experimental Study

This paper presents the results of numerical simulations for the developed and discussed conical two-phase atomizers with swirl flow, differing in the ratio of the height of the swirl chamber to its diameter. Experiments were carried out for SAN-1 with HS/DS = 1 and SAN-2 with HS/DS = 4 atomizers. The study was conducted over a range of Reynolds number for liquid ReL = (1400

Sedimentation Tanks for Treating Rainwater: CFD Simulations and PIV Experiments

The removal of solids is the most important step when treating rainwater. The article evaluates two designs of sedimentation tanks that can be used for the continuous separation of fine particles from water: OS—standard sedimentation tanks, and OW—swirl sedimentation tanks. The tanks were studied by conducting computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling and particle image velocimetry (PIV) experiments. The settling process in sedimentation tank was carried out at varying operating flow rates. A tank with a modified structure was used for the tests, where water was supplied by a nozzle placed at an angle. This solution made it possible to obtain a rotational flow that transported the suspend…

Computational fluid dynamics in the assessment of patients' postoperative status after glottis-widening surgery

Background. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD), a rapidly developing instrument with a number of practical applications, allows calculation and visualization of the changing parameters of airflow in the upper respiratory tract. Objectives. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the advantages of CFD as an instrument for noninvasive tests of the larynx in patients who had undergone surgical treatment due to bilateral vocal fold paralysis. Material and Methods. Surface measurements of the glottic space were made during maximum adduction of the vocal folds. Additionally, the following spirometric parameters were determined: forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in the first s…

The Application of CFD Methods for Modeling of a Three-Phase Fixed-Bed Reactor

The mathematical model of the three-phase fixed-bed reactor (TBR) consisting of the continuity equation, the momentum balances of each phase and mass balances of reaction mixture components were presented and discussed. These balances are the result of averaging by means of Euler’s procedure and form the basis of the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). Although the CFD model is based on fundamental principles some empirical relations (closure lows) must be implemented into the momentum balance in order to ensure a proper description of the dynamics of very complex three-phase system. Therefore, the sensitivity of a multiphase CFD model with respect to relations defining drag forces between …

Study on Interfacial Surface in Modified Spray Tower

This paper presents an analysis of the changes in interfacial surface and the size of droplets formed in a spray tower. The interfacial surface and the size of droplets formed are of fundamental importance to the performance of the equipment, both in terms of pressure drop and process efficiency. Liquid film and droplet sizes were measured using a microphotography technique. The confusors studied were classical, with profiled inside surface, and with double profiled inside surface. The liquids studied were water and aqueous solutions of high-molecular polyacrylamide (PAA) of power-law characteristics. The ranges of process Reynolds number studied were as follows: ReG &isin

Air purification from a mixture VOCs in the pilot-scale trickle-bed bioreactor (TBB)

The efficiency of the air bio-purification from the mixture of two volatile organic compounds (styrene and p-xylene) was studied. The process was carried out in a pilot-scale trickle-bed bioreactor installation designed to purify ∼200 m 3 h -1 of the polluted air. The bioreactor operated at concurrent flow of gas and liquid (mineral salt solution) through packing (polypropylene Ralu rings) covered with a thin layer of microorganisms (bacterial consortium of Pseudomonas sp. E-022150 and Pseudomonas putida mt-2). The experiments, carried out for various values of a reactor load with pollutant, confirmed the great efficiency of the investigated process. At the tested bed load with pollution (i…

Influence of the porosity profile and sets of Ergun constants on the main hydrodynamic parameters in the trickle-bed reactors

Abstract The Eulerian multiphase code has been applied for the comparative simulation of the experimental results obtained for varying flow rates of both fluid phases and for systems of various physicochemical properties used in the laboratory trickle-bed reactor (TBR). Therefore six different radial porosity profiles and three sets of the Ergun constants used in the relations defining the interphase momentum exchange have been implemented into the CFD code. The mean relative error of the pressure drop and of the averaged holdup as well as the standard deviation determined with respect to the experiments have been used as the criterion for the validation of the theoretical model. These valu…

Hydrodynamics of a cocurrent downflow of gas and foaming liquid through the packed bed. Part II. Liquid holdup and gas pressure drop

Abstract In the present study the results of experiments have been presented whose aim was to determine the values of liquid holdup as well as gas pressure drop through the packing for systems foaming under the pulse flow regime. On the basis of 245 experimental points for the pulse flow regime the verification of the models describing the hydrodynamics of the system has been performed. Attention was focused on the models of Benkrid et al. (Chem. Eng. Sci. 52 (1997) 4021), Pina et al. (AIChE J. 47 (2001) 19) and Fourar et al. (Chem. Eng. Sci. 56 (2001) 5987). It has been concluded that none of the models analysed describes the hydrodynamics of the foaming systems with enough accuracy. Next,…

Anaerobic Degradation of Environmentally Hazardous Aquatic Plant Pistia stratiotes and Soluble Cu(II) Detoxification by Methanogenic Granular Microbial Preparation

The aquatic plant Pistia stratiotes L. is environmentally hazardous and requires effective methods for its utilization. The harmfulness of these plants is determined by their excessive growth in water bodies and degradation of local aquatic ecosystems. Mechanical removal of these plants is widespread but requires fairly resource-intensive technology. However, these aquatic plants are polymer-containing substrates and have a great potential for conversion into bioenergy. The aim of the work was to determine the main patterns of Pistia stratiotes L. degradation via granular microbial preparation (GMP) to obtain biomethane gas while simultaneously detoxifying toxic copper compounds. The compos…

Biodegradation of Synthetic Organic Compounds by Methanogenic Microbiome as an Alternative Approach for Wastewater Purification and Energy Production

The use of fossil fuels (methane, oil, etc.) is undergoing an unprecedented crisis now. There is the urgent need to search for alternative energy sources. A wide range of degraded organic materials can be effectively used to provide energy together with environmental protection. Soapstock is a hazardous waste containing a high concentration of toxic organic compounds of man-made origin (fatty acids, surfactants, dyes, etc.). To prevent environmental contamination such substances require an effective treatment approach. The goal of the study was to isolate the adapted-to-fatty-acids methanogenic microbiome and investigate the patterns of sodium acetate and soapstock degradation with simultan…

Parametric sensitivity of a CFD model concerning the hydrodynamics of trickle-bed reactor (TBR)

Abstract The aim of the present study was to investigate the sensitivity of a multiphase Eulerian CFD model with respect to relations defining drag forces between phases. The mean relative error as well as standard deviation of experimental and computed values of pressure gradient and average liquid holdup were used as validation criteria of the model. Comparative basis for simulations was our own data-base obtained in experiments carried out in a TBR operating at a co-current downward gas and liquid flow. Estimated errors showed that the classical equations of Attou et al. (1999) defining the friction factors Fjk approximate experimental values of hydrodynamic parameters with the best agre…

Hydrodynamics of the cocurrent downflow of a gas and a foaming liquid through a packed bed. Part I. Estimation of the transition boundary between the hydrodynamic regimes from the gas continuous flow to the pulsing flow

Abstract In the study the results of investigations are presented aimed at determining such values of the operating parameters for which the change of the hydrodynamic regime occurs from the gas continuous flow (GCF) to the pulsing flow (PF). Nitrogen, helium and argon were used as the gas phase while the liquid phase was formed by the aqueous solutions of the alcohols C 1 –C 4 of the concentrations which ensured the foaming of the system. Thus a wide range of physicochemical properties of the system was covered in the experiments. The present study, as well as Part II, contain a wealth of experimental data which characterise the PF through the packing for the foam-forming systems. It is de…

Numerical Simulation as a Tool for Design Optimization of Two-Phase Swirl Flow Atomizers

This study aims to analyze the hydrodynamics in two-phase swirl flow conical atomizers. The Euler-Euler model was used for the calculations. Numerical simulations were performed to provide information about the fluid velocity distribution and the atomizer’s internal flow. The numerical calculations confirmed the experimental data. This data was found based on the consistency of the spray angles obtained by both methods. Assuming the correctness of the numerical simulations performed, they can be treated as a tool for further analysis of mass and energy exchange along with the atomizer and optimizing the atomizer’s design depending on the requirements. The influence of the swirl chamber geom…

Analysis of the hydrodynamics of a periodically operated trickle-bed reactor—A shock wave velocity

Abstract The relationship describing the shock wave velocity was formulated for the trickle-bed reactor operating at periodically changed feeding the bed with liquid phase. The values of shock wave velocity calculated from derived equations were compared with experimental values obtained for both fast and slow mode of base–pulse periodic liquid feeding and using liquids differing in physicochemical properties. A good agreement between these two sets of values of shock wave velocity was obtained. It has to be emphasized that the relationship (Eq. (26) ) derived in this study enables to estimate the values of the shock wave velocity when only mean values of variables of a process are known.

Modelling wet-air oxidation of phenol in a trickle-bed reactor using active carbon as a catalyst

BACKGROUND Catalytic wet air oxidation (CWAO) of phenol in a trickle-bed reactor has been investigated (operating parameters: P=1.85 MPa, T=393, 413, 433 K, L=0.17–1.77 kg m−2 s−1 and G=0.2–0.62 kg m−2 s−1). Activated carbon was used as a catalyst. The experimental results have been simulated by Eulerian multifluid model (CFD) and for comparison by the plug flow model. RESULTS The experiments proved that active carbon can be applied as a catalyst in the phenol oxidation processes revealing a catalytic activity comparable with that of commonly used metal oxides. The highest conversion of phenol obtained in long-lasting experimental runs carried out at stable catalytic activity (PO2 = 0.31 MP…

Analysis of the Effectiveness of Arytenoidectomy and Posterior Cordectomy with the Use of CFD Airflow Measurements in Patients with BVFP: A Retrospective Study

Purpose. Bilateral vocal fold paralysis (BVFP) is a rare larynx disease manifested by dyspnea, which often requires surgical treatment. The aim of the study is to determine the effectiveness of unilateral arytenoidectomy with posterior cordectomy in the treatment of BVFP using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method. Methods. This study included 33 patients with BVFP who underwent unilateral laser arytenoidectomy with posterior cordectomy. Glottis area measurements and spirometry, as well as a self-assessment of respiratory efficiency were performed before the surgery and after the recovery period. Using the CFD method, computer models of the glottis were made. Then, changes in air pr…

Hydrodynamics of a co-current three-phase solid-bed reactor for foaming systems

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the parameters, which characterize the pulsing flow of the gas and liquid through a bed, namely the frequency of pulsation, the velocity of the pulses and the pulse structure, for foaming systems. The paper presents the results of experiments aimed at determining the effect of the foaming power and the surface tension of liquid phase on the values of the measured parameters.