Prediction of the bubble size generated by a plunging liquid jet bubble column

• Published in: Chemical engineering science Vol. 47; no. 13; pp. 3265 - 3272
• Main Authors: Evans, G.M., Jameson, G.J., Atkinson, B.W.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.09.1992; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Bubble diameter; Chemical engineering; Downflow bubble column; Exact sciences and technology; Hydrodynamics of contact apparatus; Plunging liquid jet; Weber number; Plunging liquid jet; Bubble diameter; Weber number; Downflow bubble column; Congress; Gas liquid; Bubble size; Modeling; Bubble column
• ISSN: 0009-2509; 1873-4405
• DOI: 10.1016/0009-2509(92)85034-9

In this paper a model is presented to predict the maximum bubble size generated within the mixing zone at the top of a plunging liquid jet bubble column. The model uses a critical Weber number, where the energy dissipation rate per unit volume is derived from the theory of liquid-jet gas ejectors. The length of the mixing zone, and hence its volume, was determined experimentally from the vertical axial pressure profile along the wall of the column. The model was tested experimentally for a range of column and jet diameters, jet velocities, and liquid physical properties, and it was found that the measured maximum bubble diameter was in good agreement with the model predictions based on a critical Weber number of 1.2. It was also found that the bubble diameter distribution was fitted by a log-normal distribution, with a Sauter-mean-to- maximum-diameter ratio of 0.61 which is consistent with reported literature values.