(127d) Numerical Simulaton and Experiment of Flow in the Loop Reactor with Different Bottom Shape

A full-size numerical simulation of an airlift loop reactor was carried out. The k-ε model and Euler multiphase flow model were used to simulate the flow. The effects of different bottom shape of reactor on the flow condition in it were studied. Three type of bottom shape were elliptical, cone with apex angle of 90 and cone with 120. It was found that the flow velocity and turning velocity in cone-shaped bottom reactor with apex angle of 120° were higher than in other two shape. In this condition, the section area was few in the bottom region in the reactor; the area of low velocity at the bottom space was small. The flow was fluent, which was not easy to form area of zero velocity and was helpful to avoid coking at the bottom of reactor. The gas holdup with cone-shaped bottom of 120°was lower than the other two structures because of higher circular velocity. The computing results were compared with experimental data on global and average gas holdup. The agreement was found relatively satisfactory.