Evolution of bubble size distribution, number density, and shape in
semi-batch vertical gas-liquid Taylor vortex
Abstract
Bubble size distribution and bubble ellipticity were measured as a
function of axial position in a vertically oriented semi-batch
gas-liquid Taylor vortex reactor with varying gas flow rate and inner
cylinder rotation speed producing axial Reynolds numbers in the range
23.8-119 and azimuthal Reynolds numbers up to 4.2×104. The mean bubble
size increases monotonically with axial distance from the bottom of the
reactor at the location of gas injection. The functional form of the
growth of the mean bubble size with axial position depends upon the
azimuthal Reynolds number. Specifically, when the azimuthal Reynolds
number is less than 1.3×104, the mean bubble size increases linearly
with axial distance from the bubble injection point. In contrast, for
azimuthal Reynolds numbers greater than this critical value, the mean
bubble size increases with axial distance in a sigmoidal manner.