On the design and simulation of an airlift loop bioreactor with microbubble generation by fluidic oscillation

Microbubble generation by a novel fluidic oscillator driven approach is analyzed, with a view to identifying the key design elements and their differences from standard approaches to airlift loop bioreactor design. The microbubble generation mechanism has been shown to achieve high mass transfer rates by the decrease of the bubble diameter, by hydrodynamic stabilization that avoids coalescence increasing the bubble diameter, and by longer residence times offsetting slower convection. The fluidic oscillator approach also decreases the friction losses in pipe networks and in nozzles/diffusers due to boundary layer disruption, so there is actually an energetic consumption savings in using this approach over steady flow. These dual advantages make the microbubble generation approach a promising component of a novel airlift loop bioreactor whose design is presented here. The equipment, control system for flow and temperature, and the optimization of the nozzle bank for the gas distribution system are presented. (C) 2009 The Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V All rights reserved

Characterisation of an analogue liquid for hydrodynamic studies of gas-ionic liquid flows

Ionic liquids are liquid salts at low temperatures (normally less than 100°C). They are powerful solvents with very low vapour pressure. They have great potentials in many applications such as gas absorption and chemical synthesis. However, they are expensive. This limits extensive studies towards establishing phenomenological models. To address this limitation, an analogue liquid, with properties similar to an ionic liquid, has been identified which on the grounds of cost and safety appears to be suitable. In this paper, the hydrodynamic behaviour of an ionic liquid in a bubble column is compared with those of water and other liquids with similar physical properties. Average gas holdup, bubble coalescence, bubble size and specific interfacial area with different liquids are examined. Gas hold-up was determined by monitoring the change of conductivity between two flush mounted rings. The differences in bubble size and coalescence are revealed by analysing the stills taken from a high speed video camera. The dominant flow pattern in a small diameter column with ionic liquids or other fluids having similar viscosity is slug flow. The small bubbles in the liquid slugs make a smaller contribution to the specific interfacial area than Taylor bubbles. It is observed that Taylor bubbles can coalesce. The hydrodynamics of an ionic liquid in a bubble column can be estimated from that of a fluid with similar physical properties

Experimental investigation of helicity in turbulent swirling jet using dual-plane dye laser PIV technique

This paper reports a new method of generating two light sheets using a dye laser system and the use of this dual-plane dye laser system to analyse average helicity and energy dissipation in a turbulent swirling flow. The dual-plane PIV system that was used in this study consisted of three cameras and a single frequency Nd:YAG laser, which was used to generate two parallel light sheet planes with differing wavelengths(colour). The method of generating two different light sheet wavelengths using a single laser source is an innovative and new technique. Stereoscopic PIV measurements were obtained in one plane with the use of two CCD cameras, and standard PIV measurements were obtained in the other plane with the use of one CCD camera. The light scattered by the particles on two different light sheets were separated using appropriate optical filters. The measurements obtained were used to estimate the components of the velocity gradient tensor. The tensor components were then used to determine the average vorticity components and helicity quantities of the fluid that was investigated. To determine the average turbulent kinetic energy dissipation, the continuity equation was used to infer the out-of-plane gradient of the out-of-plane velocity. From the analysis of the results, it was found that regions with high helicity were correlated with regions of high turbulent kinetic energy dissipation. © 2008 Springer-Verlag

Multi-needle capacitance probe for non-conductive two-phase flows

Despite its variable degree of application, intrusive instrumentation is the most accurate way to obtain local information in a two-phase flow system, especially local interfacial velocity and local interfacial area parameters. In this way, multi-needle probes, based on conductivity or optical principles, have been extensively used in the past few decades by many researchers in two-phase flow investigations. Moreover, the signal processing methods used to obtain the time-averaged two-phase flow parameters in this type of sensor have been thoroughly discussed and validated by many experiments. The objective of the present study is to develop a miniaturized multi-needle probe, based on capacitance measurements applicable to a wide range of non-conductive two-phase flows and, thus, to extend the applicability of multi-needle sensor whilst also maintaining a signal processing methodology provided in the literature for conductivity probes. Results from the experiments performed assess the applicability of the proposed sensor measurement principle and signal processing method for the bubbly flow regime. These results also provide an insight into the sensor application for more complex two-phase flow regimes

A study of droplet impact on static films using the BB-LIF technique

This paper presents results of single droplet impacts on films of different height taken using the Brightness Based Laser Induced Fluorescence technique (BB-LIF). The dynamics of drop impingement such as the shape of the cavity, residual film thickness are investigated and analysed with a time-resolution of 0.1 ms and spatial resolution of 70 um. Additionally a variation of the BB-LIF technique is used to investigate the change in profile of the droplet liquid during the inertial self-similar regime. The results of the analysis show that present models predicting initial development of the cavity show good agreement. Suggested amendments for some of the constants for cavity width and residual film thickness are proposed based on the film thickness, that fit better with published data. The development of the profile of the droplet liquid demonstrates that for thin liquid films, the droplet liquid behavior with strong similarity to droplet impact on dry solid surfaces. It is noted that for some of the measured parameters, the use of the film height as the lengthscale gives a better fit

Study of the impacts of droplets deposited from the gas core onto a gas-sheared liquid film

The results of an experimental study on droplet impactions in the flow of a gas-sheared liquid film are presented. In contrast to most similar studies, the impacting droplets were entrained from film surface by the gas stream. The measurements provide film thickness data, resolved in both longitudinal and transverse coordinates and in time together with the images of droplets above the interface and images of gas bubbles entrapped by liquid film. The parameters of impacting droplets were measured together with the local liquid film thickness. Two main scenarios of droplet-film interaction, based on type of film perturbation, are identified; the parameter identifying which scenario occurs is identified as the angle of impingement. At large angles an asymmetric crater appears on film surface; at shallow angles a long, narrow furrow appears. The most significant difference between the two scenarios is related to possible impact outcome: craters may lead to creation secondary droplets, whereas furrows are accompanied by entrapment of gas bubbles into the liquid film. In addition, occurrence of partial survival of impacting droplet is reported

Electrocoalescence of water drop trains in oil under constant and pulsatile electric fields

This study addresses the effectiveness of constant and pulsed DC fields in promoting coalescence of dispersed water drops in an oil-continuous phase. For this purpose, a train of drops of relatively uniform size is injected into a stream of flowing sunflower oil. This stream is then admitted to a coalescing section, where an electric field is applied between a pair of ladder-shape bare electrodes. The capability of this device to enhance coalescence of droplets in a chain is investigated at different field intensities, frequencies and waveforms. The effect of the initial inter-droplet separation distance on the process performance is also addressed under constant DC fields. The dominant coalescence mechanism is found to be due to dipole–dipole interaction at low field strength, whereas electrophoresis becomes predominant at higher field strength. Experiments reveal the existence of an optimal frequency, where the average droplet size enlargement is maximized, especially at low field strengths. The droplet size at the outlet of the coalescer is also found to be dependent on the field waveform

Electrostatic phase separation: a review

The current understanding and developments in the electrostatic phase separation are reviewed. The literature covers predominantly two immiscible and inter-dispersed liquids following the last review on the topic some 15 years. Electrocoalescence kinetics and governing parameters, such as the applied field, liquid properties, drop shape and flow, are considered. The unfavorable effects, such as chain formation and partial coalescence, are discussed in detail. Moreover, the prospects of microfluidics platforms, non-uniform fields, coalescence on the dielectric surfaces to enhance the electrocoalescence rate are also considered. In addition to the electrocoalescence in water-in-oil emulsions the research in oil-in-oil coalescence is also discussed. Finally the studies in electrocoalescer development and commercial devices are also surveyed. The analysis of the literature reveals that the use of pulsed DC and AC electric fields is preferred over constant DC fields for efficient coalescence; but the selection of the optimum field frequency a priori is still not possible and requires further research. Some recent studies have helped to clarify important aspects of the process such as partial coalescence and drop–drop non-coalescence. On the other hand, some key phenomena such as thin film breakup and chain formation are still unclear. Some designs of inline electrocoalescers have recently been proposed; however with limited success: the inadequate knowledge of the underlying physics still prevents this technology from leaving the realm of empiricism and fully developing in one based on rigorous scientific methodology

Experimental characterization of interfacial wave structure of a falling liquid film in a vertical large pipe diameter

There is considerable literature on the thicknesses of falling liquid films, much of which is focussed on either flat plates or small diameter pipes. Many studies provide time series data of the film thickness at one or two points on the pipe wall. This paper reports on an investigation of the interfacial structure of falling liquid films (liquid Reynolds numbers, ReL=618-1670) in a large diameter pipe (127 mm) using a Multiple Pin Film Sensor (MPFS) which is capable of providing measurements of film thickness and interfacial waves with excellent resolution in time and in the circumferential and axial directions. Parameters, such as film thicknesses, wave velocities and frequencies were extracted. 3D interfacial wave structures were reconstructed from the film thickness data. The waves seen were much localized unlike those in smaller diameter pipes which are characterised as coherent rings. The mean film thicknesses are generally in good agreement with published models. The mean film thickness obtained from MPFS was also compared with the output of two other sensors, Ultrasound and conductance ring pairs. There is good agreement between the three methods particularly when the fact that the ring pair technique provides a circumferentially averaged value