Experimental study on the local hydrodynamic behavior of a three-phase external-loop airlift reactor

Detailed local three-phase hydrodynamic parameters, namely, the liquid velocity, bubble rise velocity, and gas holdup, were obtained for an external-loop airlift reactor using a fiber-optic probe and laser Doppler anemometry techniques. The radial and axial evolutions of these parameters and the effect of the solid fraction on the flow hydrodynamics were studied. The experiments showed that the bubble size has a large influence on the evolutions of these parameters because of radial forces acting on the bubbles. Bubble coalescence prevails near the distributor, while bubble breakup is more important in the fully developed flow. The liquid velocity and gas holdup decrease and the bubble rise velocity increases as the solid fraction increases.