TITLE: Hydrodynamics of the three-phase slurry Fischer-Tropsch bubble column reactors. Final report.

AUTHOR: D. B. Bukur;   J. G. Daly;   S. A. Patel.

INST.  AUTHOR: Texas A and M Univ., College Station. Dept. of Chemical Engineering.

SPONSOR: Department of Energy, Washington, DC.

LANGUAGE: English

PUB.  TYPE: Technical Report

PUB.  COUNTRY: United States

SOURCE: Department of Energy [DE],  Sep 90,  348p.

NTIS ORDER NO.: DE91014240INW

ABSTRACT:

This report describes results of a study on hydrodynamics of three-phase bubble columns for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. Experiments were conducted in two stainless bubble columns of 0.05 m and 0.21 m in diameter and 3 m tall, at 265(degrees)C and atmospheric pressure using nitrogen gas and two types of liquid medium (hydrotreated reactor wax designated FT-300, and raw reactor wax from fixed bed rectors at SASOL). The effects of solids types (iron oxide and silica), concentration (0--30 wt %), size (0--5 (mu)m and 20--44 (mu)m), slurry (liquid) velocity (up to 0.02 m/s) on the gas holdup and axial solids concentration profiles, were investigated.  Phase volume fractions were determined using conventional (differential pressure measurements together with determination of slurry concentration along the column) and novel (dual energy nuclear density gauge) experimental techniques. Bubble size distribution and the Sauter mean bubble diameter were obtained using the dynamic gas disengagement (DGD) method. Flow regime transitions in both columns were determined using statistical analysis of both pressure and density fluctuations.  Correlations for prediction of gas holdups and axial solids dispersion coefficient have been developed from experimental data obtained in this study. Data needed for calculation of the gas-liquid interfacial area (average gas holdup and Sauter mean bubble diameter) have been presented and can be used to estimate the mass transfer rate in slurry bubble column reactors. 105 refs., 19 figs., 38 tabs.

REPORT  NUMBER: DOE/PC/90012-10

CONTRACT  NUMBER: AC22-86PC90012