Hydrodynamic performance and structural optimization of a slurry bubble column with vertical tube internals

The slurry bubble column, as a multiphase reactor, is widely used in chemical, biological, petroleum refining, environmental, and other fields. However, most published studies of the hydrodynamic performance of slurry bubble columns have been carried out on empty columns without internal components, and recent studies on columns with vertical heat exchange tubes have been limited. In this study, the hydrodynamic performance of a laboratory-scale slurry bubble column with vertical tube bundles was studied, and a new vertical tube structure with fins was proposed. The effect of the new structure on the hydrodynamic performance of the laboratory-scale slurry bubble column was studied via a combination of experimental and numerical simulations. The results of these simulations showed that the vertical heat exchange tube structure with fins was helpful for improving fluid flow, exerted a certain fragmentation effect on large bubbles, and could strengthen mass transfer between gas and liquid, thereby improving the hydrodynamic performance.