Circulation liquid velocity in external-loop airlift reactors

In the tracer impulse method using only a conductivity probe, the more recommendable calculation method for the circulation liquid velocity was suggested, which decreased the errors resulted from the response time. The effects of the horizontal connection length (0.1 less than or equal to L(e) less than or equal to 0.5 m), the cross-sectional area ratio of downcomer-to-user (0.11 less than or equal to A(d)/A(r) less than or equal to 0.53), and the superficial gas velocity (0.02 less than or equal to U-G less than or equal to 0.18 m s(-1)) on the circulation liquid velocity were studied. The horizontal connection length as well as U-G and A(d)/A(r) had a significant effect on the circulation liquid velocity. The circulation liquid velocity increased with increasing L(e).