Análise do tempo de residência em fluidodinâmica de coluna borbulhante para diferentes perfis de alimentação

Abstract

The study of fluid dynamics in bubble columns is an essential condition to the optimization of these equipments. Its improvement ensures that higher conversion rates are achieved in reactors of this type, which ensures a product with better specifications and increased market value. An interpretation of multiphase flow with fed in the form of pulses is evaluated using the technique of computational fluid dynamics, in which three-dimensional, transient, and turbulent two-phase simulations were conducted. Parameters that were used for fluid dynamics analysis were the volume fraction distribution of air throughout the column and the distribution of the residence time, determined by this injection of an inert tracer. Four simulations are conducted, among which three correspond to variable feed flow and one with continuous feeding. The use of feed in the form of pulses ensured that vortices to be created between the fluids, a condition that can increase or decrease the residence time distribution according to the results. The work provides an important avenue for the optimization of bubbling columns, without major modifications, which expands the use of this technique also for devices already in operation.