Cold model experiment on gas-liquid two-phase flow in an airlift loop reactor

Fluid dynamics in a shallow airlift loop reactor was investigated using particle image velocimetry (PIV). Distribution of detailed flow parameters such as liquid velocity and stream function were measured by this method. Superficial gas velocity takes effect on both liquid horizontal velocity and liquid vertical velocity. The maximum liquid vertical velocity increases with the increasing of superficial gas velocity, but this variation trend is not monotonous. Variation course of liquid velocity in the baffling region shows that the developing speed of the fluid flow increases with the increasing of superficial gas velocity also. The results are helpful to understand the fluid flow and mixing effect in the reactor and also be beneficial to the design and optimization of such kind of reactors.