Measuring techniques in gas–liquid and gas–liquid–solid reactors

This article offers an overview of the instrumentation techniques developed for multiphase flow analysis either in gas/liquid or in gas/liquid/solid reactors. To characterise properly such reactors, experimental data have to be acquired at different space scale or time frequency. The existing multiphase flow metering techniques described give information concerning reactor hydrodynamics such as pressure, phases holdups, phases velocities, flow regime, size and shape of dispersed inclusions, axial diffusion coefficients. The measuring techniques are presented in two groups: the non-intrusive techniques that deliver global, cross-section-averaged or local data, and the intrusive probes that are dedicated to local measurements. Eventually some examples of multiphase instrumentation development are reported (trickle-bed and slurry bubble column at semi-industrial scale) in the refinery or petrochemical area.