Bubble column reactor
Encyclopedia
A bubble column reactor is an apparatus
used for gas-liquid reactions
first applied by Helmut Gerstenberg. It consists of vertical arranged cylindrical columns. The introduction of gas takes place at the bottom of the column and causes a turbulent
stream to enable an optimum gas exchange. It is built in numerous forms of construction. The mixing is done by the gas sparging and it requires less energy than mechanical stirring. The liquid can be in parallel flow or counter-current.
Bubble column reactors are characterized by a high liquid content and a moderate phase boundary surface. The bubble column is particularly useful in reactions where the gas-liquid reaction is slow in relation to the absorption rate. This is the case for gas-liquid reactions with a Hatta number Ha <0.3.
Bubble column reactors are used in various types of chemical reactions like wet oxidation
, or as Algae bioreactor
. Since the computerized design of bubble columns is restricted to a few partial processes, experience in the choice of a particular type column still plays an important role
Apparatus
Apparatus may refer to:*Technical term for body of the Soviet and post-Soviet governments *Machine*Equipment*Critical apparatus, the critical and primary source material that accompanies an edition of a text-See also:*Fire apparatus...
used for gas-liquid reactions
Chemical reaction
A chemical reaction is a process that leads to the transformation of one set of chemical substances to another. Chemical reactions can be either spontaneous, requiring no input of energy, or non-spontaneous, typically following the input of some type of energy, such as heat, light or electricity...
first applied by Helmut Gerstenberg. It consists of vertical arranged cylindrical columns. The introduction of gas takes place at the bottom of the column and causes a turbulent
Turbulence
In fluid dynamics, turbulence or turbulent flow is a flow regime characterized by chaotic and stochastic property changes. This includes low momentum diffusion, high momentum convection, and rapid variation of pressure and velocity in space and time...
stream to enable an optimum gas exchange. It is built in numerous forms of construction. The mixing is done by the gas sparging and it requires less energy than mechanical stirring. The liquid can be in parallel flow or counter-current.
Bubble column reactors are characterized by a high liquid content and a moderate phase boundary surface. The bubble column is particularly useful in reactions where the gas-liquid reaction is slow in relation to the absorption rate. This is the case for gas-liquid reactions with a Hatta number Ha <0.3.
Bubble column reactors are used in various types of chemical reactions like wet oxidation
Wet oxidation
Wet oxidation is a form of hydrothermal treatment. It is the oxidation of dissolved or suspended components in water using oxygen as the oxidizer. It is referred to as "Wet Air Oxidation" when air is used...
, or as Algae bioreactor
Algae bioreactor
An algae bioreactor or photobioreactor is used for cultivating algae on purpose to fix CO2 or produce biomass. Specifically, algae bioreactors can be used to produce fuels such as biodiesel and bioethanol, to generate animal feed, or to reduce pollutants such as NOx and CO2 in flue gases of power...
. Since the computerized design of bubble columns is restricted to a few partial processes, experience in the choice of a particular type column still plays an important role
Literature
- Bubble Column Reactions, by Wolf-Dieter Deckwer, John Wiley & Sons, ISBN 978-0471918110