Three-Dimensional CFD Simulations for Characterization of a Rectangular Bubble Column with a Unique Gas Distributor
Arijit Ganguli1, Vishal Rasaniya1, Anamika Maurya1
1School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Ahmedabad University, Ahmedabad 380005, Gujarat, India.
Micromachines
|February 27, 2026
Summary
Gas distributor hole size significantly impacts fluid dynamics. Smaller holes (200 µm) create dynamic plumes, while larger holes (600 µm) result in stable, central gas distribution, influencing liquid mixing and enabling new correlation development.
Area of Science:
- Chemical Engineering
- Fluid Dynamics
- Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
Background:
- Gas distributors are crucial in multiphase reactors for efficient gas-liquid contact.
- Understanding gas plume behavior and liquid mixing is essential for process optimization.
- Previous studies often lack detailed characterization of hole size effects on flow dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the fluid dynamics in a rectangular column using three-dimensional (3D) simulations.
- To investigate the impact of gas distributor hole size (600 µm vs. 200 µm) on gas plume behavior and liquid mixing.
- To develop and validate correlations for gas holdup and liquid velocity.
Main Methods:
- Performed 3D CFD simulations of a rectangular column with a uniform gas distributor.
- Validated the simulation model against experimental data from existing literature.
- Simulated gas distributors with 600 µm and 200 µm hole sizes at superficial gas velocities of 0.002, 0.004, and 0.006 m/s.
Main Results:
- Gas plume movement is highly dependent on hole size: 600 µm holes yield central, stable plumes in a fully aerated regime, while 200 µm holes produce dynamic, partially aerated plumes with wall-following behavior.
- Observed diverse plume shapes (balloon, cap, mushroom, etc.) during development, indicating complex flow patterns.
- Developed new correlations for gas holdup and liquid velocity at low superficial velocities, showing good agreement (15-20% deviation) with CFD data and outperforming existing literature correlations.
Conclusions:
- Hole size is a critical design parameter for gas distributors, significantly influencing gas-liquid hydrodynamics.
- The study provides valuable insights into plume dynamics and liquid mixing, essential for designing efficient gas-liquid reactors.
- Proposed correlations offer improved predictive capabilities for gas holdup and liquid velocity in specific operating regimes.
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