Evaluation of drag force effect on gas holdup in a Gas-liquid stirred tank reactor

A comprehensive computational method based on the Eulerian-Eulerian approach was presented for gas-liquid flows in a mechanically stirred vessel. Separate submodels were developed to investigate the influence of the drag coefficient on bubble due to interaction between bubbles and turbulence. A new model was used for definition of drag coefficient and a detailed simulation method was used to estimating the interphase drag force. The modelling method has been applied to a baffled tank stirred by a Rushton turbine, and simulation results are compared with the previous drag models and experimental measurements of Barigou and Greaves. The standard k - e turbulent model was used and the impeller rotation was modelled by the Multiple Reference Frame (MRF) approach. The computational model and proposed correlation for drag in turbulent flow would be useful for simulation gas holdup distribution and flow regimes in stirred vessels.

Keywords:

Stirred Tank , Drag force , CFD , MRF