Liquid Dispersion and Gas-Liquid Mass Transfer in Three-Phase Inverse Fluidized Beds

Axial dispersion of continuous liquid phase and gas-liquid mass transfer characteristics were investigated in a three-phase inverse fluidized bed with viscous liquid medium. The axial dispersion coefficient of liquid phase(Dz) increased with increasing gas(UG) or liquid velocity(UL), but decreased with an increase in the viscosity of continuous liquid medium((mu)L). The volumetric gas-liquid mass transfer coefficient(kLa) increased with increasing UG but decreased with increasing (mu)L, while it did not change considerably with increasing UL : The effects of UG were dominant in three phase inverse fluidized beds. In the beds of polyethylene particle(relatively heavier particle), the values of Dz and kLa exhibited higher values than those in the beds of polypropylene particles(lighter particle). The values of Dz and kLa were well correlated in terms of operating variables.