Gas holdup and flow patterns in three phase bubble columns

The main objective of this research is to determine the effect of solids on gas holdup and flow pattern in bubble columns. The other objective is to study the effect of gas distributors on the above parameters. Use of a porous plate gas distributor in bubble columns results in higher gas holdup values because of a more uniform gas distribution. Gas holdup was found to show a maximum at low solid concentrations in the bubble flow pattern. Beyond 10 weight percent solids the porous plate behaves like a sieve plate gas distributor. Gas holdup increases linearly with superficial gas velocity in the bubble slug pattern for all solid concentrations