Abstract
For the practical application of a three-phase bubble column as a reactor in the dehydration of ortho-boric acid, we investigated the bubble distribution and its effects on the reaction in a three-phase bubble column reactor (0.102 m IDx2.0 m in height) operating at relatively low pressure (below the atmospheric pressure). Effects of reaction time, temperature, gas velocity, particle size and gas injection mode (even, wall-side, central and asymmetric distribution) on the fractional conversion of the reaction were determined. The complicated bubble distribution as well as bubbling phenomena in the reactor were diagnosed and interpreted by means of the attractor trajectories and correlation dimension which were obtained from the resultant pressure fluctuations. The fractional conversion was closely related to the attractor shape or correlation dimension of the pressure fluctuations in the reactor. The fractional conversion in the case of even distribution of gas injection exhibited the highest value in all cases studied, at which the attractor of pressure fluctuations was less scattered in the phase space, while their correlation dimension had the lowest value. When the gas was injected by means of wall-side distribution, the conversion level was higher than that in case of central or asymmetric distribution mode. Although a fluid-solid heterogeneous reaction model can be applicable to the reaction, deviations from the model become considerable when the gas injection mode changes from even to wall-side, central or asymmetric mode, orderly.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abraham, N. B., Albano Das, B., Guzman, G. D., Yong, S., Punceioni, G. P. and Tredicce, J. R., “Calculating the Dimension of Attractors from Small Data Sets,”Physics Letters,114A, 217 (1986).
Deckwer, W. D. and Schumpe, A., “Improved Tools for Bubble Column Reactor Design and Scale-up,”Chem. Eng. Sci.,48, 889 (1993).
Drahos, J., Bradka, F. and Puncochar, M., “Fractal Behavior of Pressure Fluctuations in a Bubble Column,”Chem. Eng. Sci.,47, 4069 (1992).
Grassberger, P. and Procaccia, I., “Measuring the Strangeness of Strange Attractors,”Physica,9D, 189 (1983).
Idogawa, K., Ikeda, K., Fukuda, T. and Morooka, S., “Behavior of Bubbles of the Air-Water System in a Column under High Pressure,”Int. Chem. Eng.,26, 468 (1986).
Kang, Y., Shim, J. S., Cho, S. H., Choi, M. J. and Lee, K. W. J., “Dehydration of Ortho Boric Acid in a Three-Phase Bubble Column Reactor Operating at Low Pressure,”Chem. Technol. Biotechnol.,63, 313 (1995).
Kang, Y., Ko, M. H, Kim, S. D., Yashima, M. and Fan, L. T., “Pressure Fluctuations and Particle Dispersion in Liquid Fluidized Beds,”AIChE J.,42, 1164 (1996a).
Kang, Y., Shim, J. S., Ko, M. H. and Kim, S. D., “Fractal Analysis of Pressure Fluctuations in a Three Phase Bubble Column Reactor Operating at Low Pressure,”Korean J. Chem. Eng.,13, 317 (1996b).
Kang, Y., Cho, Y. J., Woo, K. J. and Kim, S. D., “Diagnosis of Bubble Distribution and Mass Transfer in Pressurized Bubble Columns with Viscous Liquid Medium,”Chem. Eng. Sci.,54, 4887 (1999a).
Kang, Y., Woo, K. J., Ko, M. H., Cho, Y. J. and Kim, S. D., “Particle Flow Behavior in Three Phase Fluidized Beds,”Korean J. Chem. Eng.,16, 784 (1999b).
Kang, Y., Cho, Y. J., Woo, K. J., Kim, K. I. and Kim, S. D., “Bubble Properties and Pressure Fluctuations in Pressurized Bubble Columns,”Chem. Eng. Sci.,55, 411 (2000).
Kikuchi, R., Yano, T., Tsutsumi, A., Yoshida, K., Punchochar, M. and Drahos, J., “Diagnosis of Chaotic Dynamics of Bubble Motion in a Bubble Column,”Chem. Eng. Sci.,52, 3741 (1997).
Kim, S. H. and Han, G. Y., “An Analysis of Pressure Drop Fluctuation in a Circulating Fluidized Bed,”Korean J. Chem. Eng.,16, 677 (1999).
Kodo, M., Kaneko, S. and Kurata, N., “The Development of the Process for Manufacturing Sec-alcohols and their Eth-oxylates Via nparaffin Oxidation,”Oil Chemistry,25, 427 (1975).
Lanauze, R. D. and Harris, I.J., “Gas Bubble Formation at the Elevated System Pressure,”Trans. Inst. Chem. Engrs.,45, 337 (1974).
Lee, S. H., Lee, D. H. and Kim, S. D., “Slug Characteristics of Polymer Particles in a Fluidized Bed with Different Distributors,”Korean J. Chem. Eng.,18, 387 (2001).
Levenspiel, O., “Chemical Reaction Engineering,” John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 357 (1972).
Packard, N. H., Crutchfield, J. D., Farmer, J. D. and Shaw, R. S., “Geometry from a Time Series,”Phys. Rev. Letter,45, 712 (1980).
Roux, J. C., Simoyi, R. H. and Swinney, H. L., “Observation of a Strange Attractor,”Physica,8D, 257 (1983).
Tsuge, H. and Hibino, S., “Bubble Formation from an Orifice Submerged in Liquids,”Chem. Eng. Commun.,22, 63 (1983).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kim, S.J., Cho, Y.J., Lee, C.G. et al. Diagnosis of bubble distribution in a three-phase bubble column reactor for dehydration of ortho-boric acid. Korean J. Chem. Eng. 19, 175–182 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02706892
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02706892