Hydrodynamics of Newtonian and non-Newtonian liquids in internal-loop airlift reactors

Autor(es)

Mendes, Caroline E. ^[1] ; Badino, Alberto C. ^[1]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Chem Engn Grad Program, Cx Postal 676, BR-13565905 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Biochemical Engineering Journal; v. 109, p. 137-152, MAY 15 2016.
• Citações Web of Science: 4

Resumo

Airlift reactors have numerous applications in processing industries, and thus the hydrodynamic behaviors using fluids that have distinct rheological characteristics need to be better understood for the successful design and operation of these devices. In this sense, the novelty of this study is to evaluate the influence of the energy losses in each reactor region on the interstitial liquid velocity (V-LR), and to provide correlations for prediction of gas hold-ups (epsilon(R) and epsilon(D)) and V-LR for a wide range of physical and rheological properties of the liquid, using different models (draft-tube-DTA, split-cylinder-SCA) and scales (5 and 10 L) of airlift reactors. Gas hold-ups were determined by a manometric method, and V-LR was calculated by circulation time of spheres with the same liquid density. Energy losses were calculated using a semi-theoretical method. The total energy dissipated in the riser and downcomer was greater for DTA reactors, whereas in the bottom was greater for SCA reactors. Non-Newtonian fluids showed higher VLR in SCA reactors, while the opposite was observed for Newtonian fluids. Excellent fits to the experimental data were achieved using simple correlations to predict epsilon(R) and epsilon(D), as well as dimensionless correlations that incorporated the desired parameter (V-LR). (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 11/23807-1 - Desenvolvimento e avaliação das condições de operação de biorreatores visando a produção de produtos biotecnológicos
• Beneficiário: Alberto Colli Badino Junior
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular
• Processo FAPESP: 12/17756-8 - Avaliação das condições hidrodinâmicas, de cisalhamento e de transferência de oxigênio de diferentes modelos de biorreatores pneumáticos
• Beneficiário: Caroline Eliza Mendes
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Doutorado