Weeping phenomena of gas distributor in bubble column reactor.

• Main Author: Pang, Qing Xi.
• Other Authors: Lau Wai Man
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Chemical engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/16520
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The liquid weeping phenomena was examined experimentally using high-speed imaging technique. The primary focus of this study was to investigate the effects of orifice surface roughness on liquid weeping rate. From the study, the optimal Roughness Average can be determined for application in industrial reactors. The experiments were operated within superficial velocity of 0 – 1.071 cm/s. Factors like static liquid height, column diameter, plenum volume, orifice diameter, number of orifice, thickness of distributor plate were kept constant. Upon analysis of the pictures and videos, force, bubbling frequency and bubble size were discussed in relation to liquid weeping. Generally at low gas velocity, a higher rate of liquid weeping was observed for a smoother surface but at higher gas velocity, a lower rate of weeping was observed instead. The impact on rate of weeping due to changes in orifice surface roughness is significant for industrial reactors operating at region of low gas velocity but almost negligible at high gas velocity.