Classification and characterization of hydrodynamic and transport behaviors of three-phase reactors

According to axial profile of solid concentration, the cocurrent upward three-phase reactors with liquid as continuous phase can be classified into three types: (a) gas-sparged slurry reactors; (b) three-phase bubble columns, and (c) three-phase fluidized beds. Comparative study shows that the gas hold up, bubble characteristics and mass transfer an significantly dependent on the type of three-phase reactors. Three types of reactors exhibit the different hydrodynamic and transport behaviors with particle size, solid concentration and gas holdup. The structural analysis of the axial solid distribution indicates the bubble and bubble wake dynamics are the key factors to the hydrodynamic and transport behaviors of three-phase reactors.