Novel Approach and Correlation for Bubble Size Distribution in a Slurry Bubble Column Reactor Operating in the Churn–Turbulent Flow Regime

A novel approach to obtain bubble size distributions and Sauter mean bubble diameters (d32) in three-phase slurry bubble column reactors (SBCRs) is presented. This approach is based on 720 experimental runs using the dynamic gas disengagement (DGD) technique for various gas–liquid–solid systems inside a pilot-scale-SBCR (0.3 m i.d./3 m height), in a wide range of pressures (1–30 bar), temperatures (298–530 K) and solid concentrations (0–17 vol %). The bubble size distributions were obtained using an iterative energy balance algorithm based on transient experimental pressure drops and forces exerted on bubbles in the disengagement cell. Bubble size distributions were described using log-normal distribution functions and the mean and variance were determined for the DGD runs. The mean and variance were correlated as functions of the system’s physical properties and operating conditions, and were used to predict d32 values with an absolute average relative error (AARE) of 11.72%. The approach was also applie...