CFD Simulations for Continuous Flow of Bubbles through Gas-Liquid Columns: Application of VOF Method

Hydrodynamics study of a continuous bubble chain rising through liquid column has been performed for laboratory scale bubble column using the volume-of-fluid (VOF) approach. The effect of operating and design parameters on the bubble size distribution and rise trajectory has been investigated for air-water system. For the same distributor, simulation results have indicated the formation of small bubbles at low superficial gas velocity and relatively large bubbles at higher velocities. The increase in the hole-size of distributor has shown similar behaviour. Analysis of bubble trajectories for different superficial gas velocities and distributors has demonstrated an oscillatory behaviour exhibited by small bubbles formed at low superficial gas velocity. A reasonable agreement between the predicted values of gas hold-up with the experimental work has validated the present model.