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ABSTRACT
The objective of our work is to demonstrate that significant enhancement of gas
liquid mass transfer in bubble columns can be achieved by subjecting the
liquid phase to low-frequency vibrations. A vibration exciter, is mounted at the
bottom of the bubble column. The vibration is transmitted to the liquid phase by
means of a piston. Both the amplitude of the vibration, and its frequency can be
adjusted quite accurately. We show that application of low-frequency vibrations, in
the 40120 Hz range, to the liquid phase of an airwater bubble column causes
significantly smaller bubbles to be generated at the nozzle. Using a 12-capillary
nozzle arrangement, the gas holdup, and the volumetric mass transfer coefficient,
kLa, were measured for a range of superficial gas velocities. Application of
vibrations to the liquid phase leads to enhancement in and kLa values of up
to 400%.
It is concluded that application of low-frequency vibration has the potential of
improving the gasliquid contacting in bubble columns.
{ is gas hold up, kLa is volumetric mass transfer coefficient}
OUR PROGRESS REGARDING PROJECT
The actual project is a german based project under the University of Amsterdam
Nieuwe Achtergrach. This project uses a vibration excitor to create sine waves in
the column which sets the liquid phase in vigorous motion.This helps increase
mass transfer rate of the reaction. In our model we will be replacing this excitor
using a motor and a cam plate arrangement which will have the same effect as that
of the vibration excitor.
The subjects we are going to pay maximum attention towards regarding this
project work are i) Mass Transfer ii) Chemical Engineering Design iii) Chemical
Reaction Engineering.
Some of the advantages of our newly designed project are:
1. Increases mass transfer rate by introducing a simple sound wave generating
arrangement.
2. Need of packing and other methods to increase contact time are eliminated,
hence reducing cost of production.
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3. The initial model is computer aided. In our model we have elimated the
whole set up and replaced it by a simple motor and vibrator arrangement,
hence reducing complications as well as energy consumption considerably.
Our aim of this project is going to be to increase the rate of mass transfer in a
particular (specific) reaction to increase its production and make its production
process more efficient. We are going to be designing this column specific to our
selected process but will also try our best to obtain a generalized formulae for
design of other processes as well.(if possible)
We have been working on studying different gas-liquid reactions that could take
place in this bubble column. Some reactions we considered were :
Hydrogenation reaction: Hydrogenation reactions are generally very slow
and do not proceed without the presence of a catalyst. Carrying out a
hydrogenation reaction in this bubble column had its disadvantages. We
would have to provide a catalyst bed. The catalyst would have to be renewed
everytime which would complicate the design. Also the handling and carring
out hydrogenation reaction would not be an easy task. But one of the main
reasons this type of reactions colud not be carried out in this column was the
hydrogenation doesnot take place in the presence of air. The column would
have to be completely free from oxygen which was not possible since our
column is exposed to atmosphere. Also stirring is an important aspect of
these reactions.Hence hydrogenation cannot be possible.
Production of urea: Urea is produced by the reaction of carbon dioxide and
ammonia. We were considering this particular reaction as carbon dioxde and
ammonia are easily available and also urea is a very useful product. But this
reaction takes place at very high temperature and pressure conditions.
Pressures upto 100-200atms and temperatures upto 170-190 C were needed
which could not be possible as it is a glass apparatus. Hence we are not
considering this reaction.

At the moment we are studying the production of chlorobenzene using
chlorine and benzene and a catalyst if needed. Somethings that we are
keeping in mind while carrying out the reactions in this column is that the
raw materials are easily available, the raw materials or the product does not
effect our glass apparatus and the process carried out by this method should
be more cost effective as those being already used.



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