Experimental Study of a Gas–Liquid Flow in Vacuum Air-Lift Column Using an Optical Bi-Probe

Abstract

The vacuum airlift column process was patented in 2007 and is under development. The experimental study of its hydrodynamics is one of the axes explored to optimize its design and operation. The object of the study presented in this paper is to determine the functions of phase indicator (gas holdup, superficial gas velocity and bubble size) of the gas–liquid flow. The experimental analysis is carried out using a two-phase instrumentation consisting of an optical fiber bi-probe. The use of experimental techniques has made it possible to better understand the hydrodynamics of a two-phase flow. The optical bi-probe placed between two column flanges made it possible to have a complete mapping of the flow of the dispersed phase. The use of a mass flow meter and an ultrasonic flowmeter, in different flow configurations, provided data on the column operation.

Keywords

• vacuum airlift
• bubble column
• optical bi-probe
• gas holdup
• bubble size
• velocity