Euler-Euler simulation of mass-transfer in bubbly flows

For practical applications the Euler-Euler two-fluid model relies on suitable closure relations describing interfacial exchange processes. Concerning pure fluid dynamics of dispersed gas-liquid multiphase flow, an ongoing effort has led to a validated set of closures that is applicable under a rather broad range of conditions. Similar results for the technologically even more important field of mass transfer remain to be achieved. Progress so far has been hampered by a lack of spatially resolved data including measurements of concentration, which are suitable for CFD model validation. In addition, correlations proposed to describe the mass transfer coefficient differ widely. Here, a preliminary study of axial concentration profiles in a bubble column is given, based on the available experimental data found in the literature. For this purpose the simplified assumption of a constant mass transfer coefficient throughout the column is made and experimentally determined values are used. New measurements will be needed to come to a final conclusion. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.