CFD modeling of gasliquidsolid

mechanically agitated
contactor
Panneerselvam et al. (2008). In: Chemical
Engineering Research and Design. 86. 1331
1344.

Presented by: Daniel Casas Orozco
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
August 2
nd
, 2012
Outline
1. Introduction
2. Problem statement
3. Experimental section
4. CFD Modeling
4.1 Utilized model
4.2 Governing equations
4.2.1 Conservation equations
4.2.2 Momentum equations
4.2.3 Constitutive turbulence equations
5. Representative results
5.1 General aspects
5.2 Solid liquid simulations
5.3 Gas liquid simulations
5.4 Three phases simulations
1. Introduction
Mechanically agitated reactors
Liquid phase
Solid phase
Gas phase
Required suspension of dispersed phases: no
particles remain at the tanks bottom for a long
time
Complete suspension: < 1 2 sec
Homogeneous suspension
Incomplete suspension
Applications:
Hydrogenations
Catalytic oxidations
Chlorination processes
Catalytic oxidation
Solid catalyst: large effective area (Critical
agitation velocity to successfully suspend solid
phase)
Oxidizing agent: injected air (Disperse gas
homogeneously as bubbles)

1. Introduction
Scaling up determinant aspects
Particle settling velocity
Impeller type
Impeller diameter
Spurger diffuser device and location
1. Introduction
2. Problem Statement
Analyze the effect of the variables:
Impeller type
Solid loading
Dispersed phases present in the system
on the critical impeller speed
CFD simulation and validation for critical
impeller speed and cloud height distribution
3. Experimental section
Elliptical shaped bottom tank Two types of impeller:

Phases
Liquid phase: Water
Solid phase: ilmenite particles (Titanium iron
oxide)(150 230 m)
Gas phase: air
3. Experimental section
4. CFD Modeling
4.1 Utilized model
MFR: Multiple Frame of Reference
Rotating frame for impeller and neighboring fluid
Stationary frame for tank, baffles and fluid outside
impeller frame
Eulerian Eulerian Multiphase Multifluid
Model: Each phase is treated as a continua
interacting among each other
4.2.1 Continuity equations for all phases

( ) 0 =
|
.
|

\
|
V +
c
c

k
k k k k
u
t
c c
4.2 Governing equations
4. CFD Modeling
|
.
|

\
|
V +
|
.
|

\
|

c
c

g g
g g
g
g g
u u u
t
c c
lg , , D g g
T
g g
g eff g g
F g u u P +
|
|
.
|

\
|
|
|
.
|

\
|
|
.
|

\
|
V + V V + V

c c c
4.2.2 Momentum equations
Conventional terms
Gas phase
=
|
.
|

\
|
V +
|
.
|

\
|

c
c

l l
l l
l
l l
u u u
t
c c
ls D D l l
T
l l
l eff l l
F F g u u P
, lg , ,
+
|
|
.
|

\
|
|
|
.
|

\
|
|
.
|

\
|
V + V V + V

c c c
Liquid phase
=
|
.
|

\
|
V +
|
.
|

\
|

c
c

s s
s s
s
s s
u u u
t
c c
ls D s s
T
s s
s eff s s s
F g u u P P
, ,
+
|
|
.
|

\
|
|
|
.
|

\
|
|
.
|

\
|
V + V V + V V

c c c
Solid phase
4. CFD Modeling
4.2.2 Momentum equations
Drag force terms
3
4
0
0 ,
, ,
10 67 . 8
4
3
|
|
.
|

\
|
=

|
.
|

\
|
=

p
D
D ls D
l s l s
p
s
l ls D ls D
d
x
C
C C
u u u u
d
C F
( )
687 . 0
0
Re 15 . 0 1
Re
24
p D
C + =
Liquid solid interaction
( )
|
.
|

\
|
+
+ =
|
|
.
|

\
|
=

|
.
|

\
|
=

4 3
8
, Re 15 . 0 1
Re
24
10 5 . 6
4
3
687 . 0
3
6
lg ,
lg , lg ,
Eo
Eo
Max C
d
x
C
C C
u u u u
d
C F
b D
p
D
D D
l g l g
b
g
l D D

Liquid gas interaction

4. CFD Modeling
( )
( )
l l l l l
k
tl
l l l l
l l
P k k u
t
k
c c
o

c
c
o
=
|
|
.
|

\
|
|
|
.
|

\
|
A
|
|
.
|

\
|
+ V +
c
c

( )
( )
l l l
l
l
l l
tl
l l l l
l l l
C P C
k
u
t
c
c
c c
o

c c
c c
c c
c
2 1
=
|
|
.
|

\
|
|
|
.
|

\
|
A
|
|
.
|

\
|
+ V +
c
c

4.2.3 Constitutive equations for turbulence
4. CFD Modeling
5. Representative results
5.1 General aspects
ANSYS CFX-11
One half simulated
Meshing: graded mesh with further hexagonal
meshing (ICEM option)
MFR model: Interaction between phases
synchronized by continuity
Boundary conditions: non slip at surfaces and free
surface as degassing boundary
5. Representative results
5.1 General aspects
Mean bubble size: 4 mm
Finite Volume Method (FVM)
Pressure Velocity Coupling: Rhie Chow Algorithm
Variables: type of impeller, agitation speed,
particle diameter, solid charge, superficial gas
velocity
5.2 Solid liquid simulation
5.2.1 Solid velocity (7% solids, 1200 RPM)
5. Representative results
Rushton turbine 4 bladed turbine
5.2.2 Solid velocity profiles (r/R = 0.5, 1200 RPM, solid
charge = 7 %)
5. Representative results
Radial velocity Tangential velocity Axial velocity
5.3 Gas liquid simulation
Axial liquid velocity (300 rpm, upward gas feed)
5. Representative results
5.4 Three phases simulation
5. Representative results
Impeller effect on solid distribution (30 % solid charge,
230 m size, 0.5 vvm air flow)
Rushton Turbine 4 blade turbine
5.4 Three phases simulation
5. Representative results
Particle size effect on solid distribution (30 % solid
charge, Rushton turbine, 0.5 vvm air flow)
125 m 180 m
230 m
THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION