Flow phenomena and bubble behavior in rotating disc contactors
Abstract
A numerical model for predicting the flow phenomena, power requirements, and bubble behavior in rotating disc contactors (RDCs) is presented. The problem is formulated and the governing Navier-Stokes equations are transformed into stream function, velocity and tangential velocity equations. Integrations are taken around a control volume in the flow field, and the above equations are reduced to a set of simultaneous, algebraic, finite difference equations. A fast-converging, line-iteration technique is then used to solve these difference equations. Both laminar and turbulent flows were considered. The trajectory of a single gas bubble moving the RDCs with or without mass transfer was obtained by solving simultaneously the bubble radius-time history and kinetic equations. A three-stage, perforated RDC system with alpha = 45 deg was set up, and a flow visualization technique using aluminum powder as tracer particles was employed to study the flow patterns in the system. The velocity distribution was determined by analyzing the streaklines of aluminum particles on time-exposure photographs. In the flow ranges observed, the experimental data agree qualitatively with the numerical predictions.
- Publication:
-
Ph.D. Thesis
- Pub Date:
- 1982
- Bibcode:
- 1982PhDT........21W
- Keywords:
-
- Bubbles;
- Contractors;
- Flow Characteristics;
- Rotating Disks;
- Rotating Fluids;
- Computational Fluid Dynamics;
- Flow Velocity;
- Laminar Flow;
- Navier-Stokes Equation;
- Turbulent Flow;
- Vortices;
- Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer