Abstract

The hydrodynamics of a down flow jet-loop reactor with a gas-liquid-solid three-phase system in semi-industrial scale were investigated. The Eulerian-Eulerian modelling approach was applied to predict flow behaviour in the reactor. A commercially available, control-volume-based code FLUENT 6.1 was chosen to carry out the computer simulations. In order to reduce computational times and required system resources, the 2D axisymmetric segregated solver was chosen. The influence of different k-e turbulence models, as well as, different types of meshes on velocity profiles in each phase was analyzed. The unstructured mesh reduces discrepancies on the axis of symmetry caused by the axisymmetric solver and is more accurate. The prediction error of the water circulation rate ratio for a gas-liquid system was only 3.6 % and about 15 % for gas-liquid-solid system. Unfortunately the gas hold-up was not predicted properly.

Recommended Citation

Szafran, Roman G. and Kmiec, Andrzej (2004) "Application of CFD Modelling Technique in Engineering Calculations of Three-Phase Flow Hydrodynamics in a Jet-Loop Reactor," International Journal of Chemical Reactor Engineering: Vol. 2: A30.
Available at: http://www.bepress.com/ijcre/vol2/A30