Important Factors in Bubble Coalescence Modeling in Stirred Tank Reactors

Bubble coalescence has been studied in a 2.6 L stirred tank. Instantaneous velocity fields were measured using PIV and corresponding turbulent kinetic energy, dissipation rate, various length and timescales were estimated. All of these data, combined with data of local gas hold-up, bubble size and coalescence rate obtained with shadowgraph were used to assess bubble coalescence at different positions. Results show that bubble coalescence takes place mostly near the tank wall, especially on the leeward side of baffles. The most important factors affecting coalescence are gas hold-up, fluctuation of liquid velocity, different rise velocities of bubbles, and trapping of bubbles in stationary and turbulent eddies.