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CFD simulation of the hydrodynamics in an internal air-lift reactor with two different configurations

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Abstract

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was used to investigate the hydrodynamic parameters of two internal airlift bioreactors with different configurations. Both had a riser diameter of 0.1 m. The model was used to predict the effect of the reactor geometry on the reactor hydrodynamics. Water was utilized as the continuous phase and air in the form of bubbles was applied as the dispersed phase. A two-phase flow model provided by the bubbly flow application mode was employed in this project. In the liquid phase, the turbulence can be described using the k-ɛ model. Simulated gas holdup and liquid circulation velocity results were compared with experimental data. The predictions of the simulation are in good agreement with the experimental data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Arak University, Arak, 38156-8-8849, Iran

    Mona Ebrahimifakhar, Elmira Mohsenzadeh, Sadegh Moradi & Mostafa Moraveji

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, Islamic Azad University, Arak Branch, Arak, Iran

    Mahmoud Salimi

Authors
  1. Mona Ebrahimifakhar
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  2. Elmira Mohsenzadeh
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  3. Sadegh Moradi
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  4. Mostafa Moraveji
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  5. Mahmoud Salimi
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Correspondence to Sadegh Moradi.

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Ebrahimifakhar, M., Mohsenzadeh, E., Moradi, S. et al. CFD simulation of the hydrodynamics in an internal air-lift reactor with two different configurations. Front. Chem. Sci. Eng. 5, 455–462 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11705-011-1116-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11705-011-1116-x

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