Gas-phase holdup in a slurry-bubble column

Total and sectional gas-phase holdups are measured in a wide (0.305 m internal diameter) and long (3.7 m) glass bubble column at ambient conditions as a function of superficial gas velocity. Sectional gas holdup values vary along the length of the column and decrease as the height above the gas distributor plate increases in the transitional and turbulent Bow regimes. In the discrete bubbling regime, the values are fairly constant in most of the column length except for a small lower portion where the values are significantly smaller than in the rest of the column. This is due to the formation of gas jets at the orifices of the distributor plate. The holdup values are dependent only on the mangitude of gas velocity and do not depend upon how it is approached, i.e., by increasing or decreasing the Bow, in the turbulent-Bow regime. This is not the case in the discrete and transitional gas-Bow regimes. These characteristic variations in gas holdup are explained on the basis of the formation of bubbles in the lower region of the column and their growth by bubble coalescence prior to acquiring a stable bubble size. Limited experimental data for the three-phase system (air-water-glass beads) indicate that gas holdup decreases as the concentration of glass beads is increased in the mixutre. This is attributed to the increased buoyancy effect in the presence of glass beads which increases the upthrust and hence the bubble velocity which results in the decrease of gas holdup. Total gas holdup data as a function of superficial gas velocity are compared with the predictions of four commonly used correlations and are also analysed in terms of the sectional measured gas-phase holdup data. The inferences that follow are significant.