Study of Gas Holdup, RPM and Heat Transfer Coefficient in Air and Water Pressure Swing Rotating Bubble Cap Sparger Column

The present investigation focused on the study of gas holdup, RPM and heat transfer coefficient in a bubble column. The investigated bubble column (ID 0.2 m and height 1.8 m) was assembled with a pressure swing rotating bubble cap (PSRBC) sparger, which is capable of producing bubbles with self-rotation simultaneously. The gas holdup, RPM and heat transfer studies were carried out in stationary water with compressed air in the present bubble column as the distribution of the gas phase was more uniform than the existing bubble columns. The sparger was a cylindrical shape of 0.01 m in diameter and 0.12 m in height with 18 angular nozzles fixed in three layers on the lateral surface of the cap. The column was operated with the supply of compressed air (through a helical copper pipe inside the water bath) to the static liquid column of various heights with the help of a PSRBC sparger. The influence of superficial air velocity on gas holdup, RPM and heat transfer coefficient has been studied. Model equations have been developed for predicting gas holdup, RPM and coefficient of heat transfer for the PSRBC sparger bubble column in the present range of investigation. A comparative analysis of Stanton number between stationary and rotating PSRBC sparger has been done. The heat transfer coefficient was enhanced in the latter one. The findings of the present investigation may help industrial applications like deaerator and gas–liquid interacting systems, where the gas phase is supplied to the liquid through a bubbling manner.