Chemical Engineering Science 134 (2015) 129–137

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Chemical Engineering Science

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/ces

Influence of fluid-mechanical parameters on volumetric mass transfer

coefficient in a spout–fluid bed with a draft tube
Milena Knežević, Dragan Povrenović n
University of Belgrade, Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, Karnegijeva 4, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia

H I G H L I G H T S

Increase of water and air flow rate in the annulus increase leakage to the draft tube.

Reduction of particle circulation due to the presence of air in the annulus.

Increase of the particle diameter contributes to better fragmentation of bubbles.

Particle circulation improves oxygen mass transfer in spout–fluid bed with draft tube.

art ic l e i nf o a b s t r a c t

Article history: In order to apply a spout–fluid bed reactor with a draft tube for the nitrification process of wastewater
Received 4 January 2015 treatment, the influence of fluid-mechanical parameters on volumetric mass transfer coefficient was
Received in revised form analyzed. Experiments were carried out in a 1000 mm high 2D semi-column with a draft tube. The draft
30 March 2015
tube had a cross section of 50  50 mm2 and the annular region of the reactor had a cross section of
Accepted 17 April 2015
50  140 mm2. The work described in this paper reports the influence of several fluid-mechanical
Available online 29 April 2015
parameters including liquid and gas flow rates, particle diameters and particle circulation on volumetric
Keywords: mass transfer coefficient, kL a. The liquid flow ranged from 3.5–4.5 m3/h and gas flow ranged from 300 to
Three-phase system 800 L/h. The particles used were glass spheres with diameters of 3, 4, 5 and 6 mm. Tap water and air
Spout–fluid bed
were used as the liquid and gas phase, respectively. The experimental results have shown that particle
Draft tube
circulation through the draft tube contributes to kL a increase as well as the increase in the particle
Volumetric mass transfer coefficient
Particle circulation diameter, the gas and liquid flow rates.
& 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction per unit volume compared to suspended growth reactors (Mendoza-

The excess of nitrogen compounds in water-receptors is often the
result of insufficient or inadequate wastewater treatment. The negative
influence these compounds present on the environment reflects in
eutrophication of natural water resources, toxicity to aquatic organ-
isms, and dissolved oxygen consumption (He et al. 2009; Zhang et al.
2011). Removing nitrogen compounds from wastewater is a necessary
measurement for prevention of environmental pollution. Biological
removing based on nitrification–denitrification process is considered
to be the most cost-effective treatment, so consequently it is the most
widely used one. Biofilm reactors are often used for this kind of
treatment since they offer a higher concentration of microorganisms
n
Corresponding author. Tel.: þ 381 113303790.
E-mail address: povrenovic@tmf.bg.ac.rs (D. Povrenović).
Espinosa and Stephenson, 1999).
Numerous studies of different biofilm reactors for nitrogen removal
include fixed-film reactors (Hamoda et al., 1996; Villaverde et al.,
1997), fluid-bed reactors (Aslan and Dahab, 2008; Andalib et al., 2011;
Wang et al., 2012), airlift reactors (Heijnen et al., 1993; Nogueira et al.,
2002). However, in the available literature, no application of spout or
spout–fluid bed for the nitrification process was found.
The advantages of a spout system with a draft tube over a
regular fluidized bed were also noticed in biomass pyrolysis
process and were mostly reflected in better mass and heat transfer
(Fernandez-Akarregi et al., 2013; Makibar et al., 2011; Zhang et al.,
2009). It was also noted that it was possible to use bigger and
coarser particles. Spout bed with a draft tube systems can also be
applied in coating processes (Ijichi et al., 2000; Publio and Oliveira,
2004), phenol degradation (Safont et al., 2012) and a denitification
process (Keshava et al., 2014).

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2015.04.030
0009-2509/& 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
130 M. Knežević, D. Povrenović / Chemical Engineering Science 134 (2015) 129–137
Two-phase spout–fluid bed systems come in two versions, as gas-
particle or liquid-particle systems. Intense particle–fluid contact is
typical for both versions, so numerous successful applications have
already been reported (Aguado et al., 2005; Plawsky et al., 2010).
The three-phase variation of the aforementioned system also
has two versions. The aerated liquid-particle system one has not
been thoroughly examined yet, but it is considered that it could be
successfully applied in certain bioprocesses (Merchuk and Siegel,
1988) while the gas-particle system with dispersed liquid has
found its application in various drying processes (Altzibar et al.,
2008; Arsenijević et al., 2002; Berghel and Renström, 2014;
Povrenović et al., 1992). Previous examinations of these systems
(Grbavčić et al., 1992; Littman et al., 2009; Povrenović, 1996) have
shown that the spout–fluid bed reactor with a draft tube has
several advantages over the reactor with simple spout or spout–
fluid bed reactors.
Due to its flexibility and intensive fluid–particle contact, the
three-phase spout–fluid bed reactor with a draft tube can be
applied in aerobic processes of wastewater treatment. The limiting
factor in these processes is the oxygen mass transfer from the
gaseous to the liquid phase as a certain concentration of dissolved
oxygen is a necessary precondition for the development of the
desired nitrifying bacteria. Considering that oxygen is poorly
soluble in water, the absence of dissolved oxygen, as the only
form available to the microorganisms, is one of the major causes of
process failure. An additional problem is the development of
heterotrophic bacteria and the competition between them and
autotrophic nitrifying bacteria for oxygen as an electron donor
(Morgenroth and Wilderer, 2000; Okabe et al., 1995; Rittmann and
Manem, 1992; Rittmann et al., 2002), as well as for the space in
biofilms (Ohashi et al., 1995; Tijhuis et al., 1994; Van Benthum
et al., 1997). The efficiency of the oxygen mass transfer from the
gas phase to the liquid phase is described through values of
volumetric mass transfer coefficient kL a (Benyhaia et al., 1996).
Numerous investigations of various three-phase systems with
fluidized beds, biofilters, airlift reactors etc. have been performed,
examining the effects of gas and liquid velocity, type of gas
distributor, characteristics of the solid phase in the system and
liquid viscosity on volumetric mass transfer coefficient (Chen and
Leu, 2001; Freitas and Teixeira, 2001; Hamdad et al., 2007;
Maldonado et al., 2008; Miura et al., 2012).
Particles of different diameters and densities, such as glass,
polyethylene or silicon-dioxide ones were used in different experi-
ments as solid phase, as well as nickel powders and Ca-alginate,
(Bukur et al. 1990; Chen and Leu, 2001; Freitas and Teixeira, 2001;
Hamdad et al. 2007; Herskowitz and Merchuk, 1986; Lee et al.,
1993; Schumpe et al., 1989; Sivasubramanian, 2010; Vandu and
Krishna, 2004; Yang et al., 2001).
Tap water, ethanol, paraffin and tellus oil, CMC and tetradecan
are some of the substances used as the liquid phase (Freitas and
Teixeira, 2001; Hamdad et al. 2007; Vandu and Krishna, 2004).
Available literature provides a great deal of contradictory
results and conclusions regarding the effects of process para-
meters on oxygen mass transfer in three-phase systems. Various
experiments have proved that volumetric mass transfer coefficient
depends on distribution and size of the bubbles in the system
(Camarasa et al., 1999) and that bubble behavior, mostly affected
by the dispersion system, has a great influence on both mass
transfer and system's fluid-dynamics (Deckwer and Schumpe,
1993). It is also experimentaly established that the specific
influence of particular process parameters on bubble formation
and mass transfer relies on system's fluid-mechanics.
This paper describes experimental examination of fluid-
mechanical parameters in the spout–fluid bed reactor with a draft
tube and their impact on oxygen mass transfer in the system. The
investigation was conducted in order to determine the system's
suitability for usage in nitrification processes of wastewater
treatment.
2. Experimental system
The experiments were conducted in a 1000 mm high 2D semi-
column made of Plexiglas with a cross section of 200  50 mm2.
The draft tube was 400 mm long and had a 50  50 mm2 cross
section. The distance between the inlet flow distributor and the
draft tube was 40 mm. A schematic diagram of the experimental
system is shown in Fig. 1.
Water was introduced to the system through a spouting inlet
nozzle (50  50 mm2) and through the annulus inlet nozzle over a
fixed bed distributor made out of glass particles having 6 mm in
diameter. In order to prevent dead zone emersion, the bottom of
the annular part of the column was set at the angle of 301. Annular
and spout flows were introduced by two separate pumps of
350 W, with maximum work flow rate of 7.5 m3/h and the
pressure of 1 bar, and for gas introducing a compressor was used.
The gas was introduced on the bottom of the annulus over a tube
distributor with 1 mm diameter orifices. The fluid flows were
measured by rotameters.
Liquid flow rate through the draft tube was set on 2.5 m3/h and
the flow rate through the annulus had values of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 m3/h.
These flow rates were used with each particle diameter in order to
examine the particle diameter influence on oxygen mass transfer.
Liquid was recirculated through the column. Air flow rate varied
from 300 to 800 L/h.
The dependence of particle circulation through the draft tube
from fluid flow was examined by using a specially designed
catcher that would not disturb the fluid or particle flow pattern
in any way. It had negligible resistance to free flow of water and
particles. The catcher was set on the surface of annulus by a long
handle. This handle enabled quick descending and withdrawal of
the catcher in a specific moment of time. The particle mass flow
rate was calculated from the mass of particles caught in the
catcher for a certain period of time.
Experiments were performed using tap water at room tem-
perature. Dissolved oxygen concentration in the water was
reduced to concentration below 1 mg/L by sparging with nitrogen
through the gas distributor. After the system was depleted from
oxygen, the air was introduced to the system until the concentra-
tion of the dissolved oxygen reached the 95% of the saturation
concentration for the given temperature. Oximeter WTW Oxi 340i
was used to measure dissolved oxygen concentration variation in
the column with time. The oximeter probe was set on the top of
the column. A dynamic oxygen desorption method, using air to N2
substitution, was used to measure the volumetric gas-liquid mass
transfer coefficient kL a (Letzel et al., 1999; Vandu and Krishna,
2004) with assumption that liquid phase was perfectly mixed. This
assumption was tested by injecting methyl violet in both the draft
tube region and the annular region and it was confirmed by the
visual mixing of these currents in the area where the oxi-probe
was set. This assumption was also confirmed by obtaining similar
values of dissolved oxygen concentration at the top and at the
bottom of the column.
dC

¼ kL a C n C t ð1Þ
dt
n
In Eq. (1), C denotes the oxygen saturation concentration and
C t is the dissolved oxygen concentration for a specific moment in
time. After integration of Eq. (1), presuming that C 0 is the
dissolved oxygen concentration for t ¼ 0:



ln C n C t ¼ ln C n  C 0  kL a U t ð2Þ
 M. Knežević, D. Povrenović / Chemical Engineering Science 134 (2015) 129–137
Fig. 1. Scheme of the experimental system.
By plotting the lnðC n  C t Þ as a function of time, a linear curve is
obtained. The value of kL a can be calculated from the slope of
the curve.
Spherical glass particles of 3, 4, 5 and 6 mm in diameter, with a
density of 2540 kg / m3, were used as a solid phase. The particle
bed mass was 3 and 4 kg. In order to compare the impact of the
solid phase on the volumetric mass transfer coefficient,kL a values
were also determined in a two-phase system, with no particles
present.
Pressure variations in the draft tube and the annulus were
measured by means of piezometers connected to pressure taps on
the column. The variations were measured depending on the type
of the particles and the flow rate value of water and air in both the
spout and the annular region by using piezometers set at 35 points
along the columns, regularly distributed by axial and radial
direction. In defining the resulting quantity of the fluid leaking
out of the inlet spout flow into the annulus and vice versa, a
calibration diagram was used. This calibration diagram was
acquired by measuring pressure drops throughout the particle
bed for specific flow rate values Q A ð0Þ while the entrance region of
the spout section and draft tube were mechanically blocked. After
that, the pressure drop was measured when a stable spout–fluid
bed was established and based on these values and data from the
calibration diagram, the flow rates in the annular region Q A were
determined. This calibration diagram gives the relation between
pressure drop and flow rate and it differs for each air flow rate and
particle type.
The methyl violet was introduced for the visual display of fluid
exchange between the spout and annular flows by pulse injecting
methyl violet into the spout and the annulus liquid flow line.
In order to examine the effects of particle circulation in the
spout–fluid bed with a draft tube on the oxygen mass transfer
values were also determined when the particle circulation in the
system was disabled with a mechanical barrier between the
annulus and the draft tube. The inlet fluid flow rate values used
were the same as in previous tests.
131
3. Results and discussion
Throughout the experimental examinations of water-air-
particle system reported in this paper, the draft tube distance
from the column bottom (the height of the entrance region)
seemed to have no influence on spouting stability. According to
certain previous studies (Epstein and Grace, 2011; San José et al.,
2007) of gas-particles conical spout bed systems, the ratio
between the entrance region and particle diameter had to be less
than 10 for a stable system operation. In the water-particles
system described in this paper the same ratio ranged from 6.66
to 13.33 and no system instability was noticed. The only system
instability was noticed in the case of smaller particle diameters
combined with high inlet flow rates through annulus region due to
the intense particle agitation.
3.1. Influence of particle presence and size on volumetric mass
transfer coefficient
One of the main goals of the research described in this paper
was to examine the influence of particle bed in a spout–fluid
three-phase water-air-glass spheres system on oxygen mass
transfer from the gaseous to the liquid phase. The results are
expressed through volumetric oxygen mass transfer coefficient kL a
and show that the presence of particles significantly improves
mass transfer efficiency (Fig. 2), i.e. higher volumetric mass
transfer coefficient values are obtained in the three-phase system
compared with the two-phase system without particles. Improve-
ment of mass transfer in the presence of particles can be attributed
to the constant renewal of mass transfer area between two fluids
(Lee et al., 2013), and it is considered that in this way the mass
transfer resistance, expressed through mass transfer coefficient in
a liquid phase kL , is reduced. This conclusion is also consistent with
the experimental results obtained during other experimental
studies. In one of these studies experiments were performed in a
fluidized bed reactor with glass spheres having 3, 5, 7 mm in
132 M. Knežević, D. Povrenović / Chemical Engineering Science 134 (2015) 129–137
Fig. 2. Influence of particle diameter on kL a values.
diameter using both Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids (Miura
et al., 2012). In another an airlift reactor with both porous
(alumina particles) and non-porous (ceramic) particles was used
(Herskowitz and Merchuk, 1986). Similar findings can also be
found in a study where a slurry bubble column with iron oxide
and silica particles was used (Bukur et al., 1990).
The extent of particles' contribution to the improvement of mass
transfer between the gas and the liquid reflects the combination of
their features and the system´s characteristics. The results obtained
during the tests described in this paper show that the value of kL a
increases with increasing particle diameter in the range of 3–6 mm.
A similar conclusion was derived during other studies which
included a fluidized bed of glass particles with diameters of 3,
5 and 7 mm (Miura et al., 2012).
The particle diameter increase contributes to better fragmenta-
tion of bubbles due to the increase of inertial force and its
momentum. By reducing the diameter of bubbles the specific
surface area between gas and liquid increases, and consequently
the volumetric mass transfer coefficient increases as well (Han
et al., 1998; Kim and Kang, 1997, 2006). For smaller particles,
increased pressure drop causes compression of air in the bed
bottom layer, which than causes bubble coalescence and weaker
air-particle contact in the bed (Fig. 3). Larger bubbles have a lower
specific surface area value, shorter retention time and a higher
rising velocity along the column compared to the smaller ones,
which reduces oxygen mass transfer.
3.2. Influence of air and liquid flow rates on kL a
With air flow rate increase and a constant liquid flow rate
expressed as a sum of spout and annular flow rates in the spout–
fluid bed, kL a value increases, as shown in Fig. 4. This result is in
compliance with a few other examined three-phase systems like
the fludized bed system with carbonate/bicarbonate buffer solu-
tion, CO2 and glass beads (Chang et al., 1986), or the water-air-
glass spheres (dp ¼0.4 mm) system in a circulating fluidized bed
reactor (Yang et al., 2001). Similar findings were also acquired in a
fluidized bed system having nickel powder as the solid phase
(dp ¼0.194 mm) and carboxymethyl cellulose solution as the liquid
phase (Chen and Leu, 2001).
Increasing the air flow rate at constant process parameters
increases the amount of retained gas, and with it the amount of
bubbles in the system. This way the specific surface area a
increases and therefore the kL a value rises as well (Chang et al.,
1986; Lee et al., 2013)
The increase in liquid velocity enhances turbulence in the
three-phase system, increases the contact surface between the
phases as well as the surface renewal rate. All these effects
contribute to a more efficient oxygen mass transfer. The increase
of the liquid flow rate through the particle bed has the same effect
on kL a because it intensifies the change of velocity and direction of
the liquid flowing through the bed (Fig. 4). The positive effect that
velocity and liquid flow rate increase have on kL a is attributable to
better bubble fragmentation and consequent increase in specific
surface area (Kang et al., 2003). In contrast to these findings,
available literature offers results obtained in other studies which
show that increasing liquid velocity substantially reduces the
residence time of turbulent eddies which devalues the overall
impact of increasing liquid velocity to the increase in kL a value
(Lee et al., 2013). Results of some studies (Miura et al., 2012) even
suggest that kL a value decreases with increasing liquid velocity
whether a non-Newtonian or Newtonian fluid is in question. The
contradiction between these conclusions and the results obtained
in this study indicate that the kL a value is extremely affected by
the fluid-mechanical and geometric characteristics of the system.
3.3. Influence of the inlet anular flow rate and air flow rate on fluid
leakage over the entrance region
Fluid leakage over the entrance region from the annulus into
the draft tube and vice versa appears in spout–fluid bed systems
with a draft tube (Povrenović 1996; Erbil, 2003). It is necessary to
know the value of liquid flow rate which interacts with air in the
annulus region if a spout–fluid bed with a draft tube and two inlet
liquid streams (when the annulus stream is aerated and the one in
spout is not) is to be applied in a process. The ratio between the
inlet liquid flow rate on the bottom of the annulus and the liquid
flow rate through the annulus is directly related to the intensity of
leakage out of the annulus towards the draft tube and vice versa.
In other words, it is related to the resultant value of leakage. The
above-mentioned phenomenon would have a profound influence
in the implementation of these systems in biological treatment of
wastewater since the feed wastewater stream would be intro-
duced to the system through annulus and circulation of particles
with immobilized microorganisms would be provided by introdu-
cing the treated wastewater through the draft tube. The resultant
of the fluid leakage in the examined system, with and without air
flow, is shown in Fig. 5. In a water-particle system, the increase of
inlet anular flow rate causes intensified fluid leakage from the
annulus to the draft tube. In one of the experiments performed as
a part of this research methyl-violet was introduced to the system
by pulse injections. The results presented in Fig. 6 show that the
leakage from the annulus into the draft tube increases with
annular flow rate increase.
The presence of air in the annulus aditionally increases the
leakage from the annulus into the draft tube. With the increase of
air flow rate through the annulus, the leakage from the annulus to
the draft tube also incrases. An experiment performed in a
cylindrical column with a flat bottom, where the fluid leakage in
a spout–fluid bed with a draft tube was examined by means of
“tracer” method, has also shown that air affects leakage from the
annulus (Erbil, 2006).
The results given in Fig. 5 show that smaller leakage is noted
within the system with bigger particles. With particle diameter
decreasing, the bed porosity also decreases, and consequently,
resistance to fluid flow increases causing intensified leakage from
anulus to the draft tube. This enabled a higher fraction of inlet
annular fluid to be aerated. This further contributes to kL a increase
(beside the better bubble breakage which comes with bigger
particles).
 M. Knežević, D. Povrenović / Chemical Engineering Science 134 (2015) 129–137 133

Fig. 3. Shapes of bubbles formed in the column during the introduction of air through the annulus (a) dp ¼ 3 mm; (b) dp ¼ 6 mm; mass of the particle bed is 3 kg in both
cases, while the particle diameter varies; Q g ¼ 300 L=h; Q s ð0Þ ¼ 2:5 m3 =h; Q A ð0Þ ¼ 1:5 m3 =h.

Fig. 4. Volumetric mass transfer coefficient value dependence of air flow rate and Fig. 5. Influence of gas flow rate on the leakage resultant for the system with a
total liquid flow rate through the column. different particles diameter, at same bed mass.

3.4. Influence of particle circulation and bed mass on kL a
The increase of the liquid flow rate through the draft tube,
happening as a consequence of leakage from the annulus,
increased the intensity of particle circulation, and consequently
their downward velocity in the annulus. This way the intensity of
fluid–particle contact is reinforced and mass transfer from the gas
to the liquid phase is improved.
The contribution of the increased particle circulation to kL a
value increase has also been noted in various types of three-phase
systems with fluidized bed and circulation (Lee et al., 2013; Son
et al., 2007, 2008, 2009).
The presence of air in the annulus caused a reduction in the
flow rate of particles through the central tube despite contrary
expectations based on the appearance of increased liquid leakage
from the annulus to the draft tube in the presence of air (Fig. 7).
Countercurrent movement of gas bubbles hampered the descend-
ing of particles in the annulus toward the inlet region. The
expansion of the particle bed in the annulus was also noted.
Reduction of particle circulation due to the presence of air in the
annulus has been shown in other studies (Erbil, 2006).
The increase of inlet fluid flow rate within the annulus
increases the particle circulation, while on the other hand, the
air flow increase affects the actual bed weight decrease, reducing
134 M. Knežević, D. Povrenović / Chemical Engineering Science 134 (2015) 129–137

Fig. 6. Visual representation of annulus leakage with methyl violet pulse injection into the inlet annulus liquid flow, dp ¼ 6 mm; M ¼ 3 kg, Q s ð0Þ ¼ 2:5 m3 =h; Q g ¼ 0 L=h,
(a) Q A ð0Þ ¼ 0:5 m3 =h; (b) Q A ð0Þ ¼ 1:0 m3 =h, (c) Q A ð0Þ ¼ 1:5 m3 =h, (d) Q A ð0Þ ¼ 2:0 m3 =h.

Fig. 8. Influence of particle mass flow rate on a volumetric mass transfer coefficient
Fig. 7. Influence of air flow rate and liquid flow rate throught the draft tube on the
depending on air flow, with spouting inlet flow of 2:5 m3 =h, and annulus inlet flow
particle mass flow rate.
of 1:0 2:0 m3 =h.

in this way the quantity of particles transferring from the annulus
into the draft tube over the inlet region. The cumulative effect of
these operating conditions is that kL a value increase is affected by
the gas flow increase through the annulus and by particles'
circulation increase through the draft tube, Fig. 8.
The amount of particles in the system also has a significant
influence on the gas bubbles formation. The research results
concerning the three-phase systems found in available literature
are contradictory. In a number of studies it was concluded that the
increase in particle quantity in the system increases the value kL a,
most likely due to intense bubble fragmentation (Miura et al.,
2012). On the other hand, results in a couple of other studies
indicate that increasing the amount of particles causes a more
pronounced decrease in kL a values due to the coalescence of
bubbles (Freitas and Teixeira, 2001).
A higher fluid flow resistance occurs when the particle bed
mass increases. When the inlet annulus liquid flow rate values are
low, the leakage occurs in the draft-annulus direction and it has
been shown that a smaller amount of liquid leaks from the draft
tube to the annulus when the bed mass is 4 kg compared to a 3 kg
bed (Fig. 9). With higher values of inlet flow rate through the
annulus, the fluid leaks from the annulus to the draft tube and a
larger amount of fluid leaks from the annular region to the draft
tube when the bed weight is 4 kg compared to the system with a
3 kg bed. The impact of particles on the exchange of fluids through
the inlet region is reflected in the increased aeration of the liquid
in the system with 3 kg of particles compared to a system with
4 kg of particles. It can be deduced from the previous statement
that increasing the bed height in a spout–fluid bed system with a
draft tube used in this research above the minimum height
required for a steady spout–fluid bed formation causes a slight
decline in the value of kL a, as can be seen in Fig. 10.
This behavior can be attributed to the fluid-mechanical condi-
tions at the bottom of the particle bed and at the spout-annulus
boundary below the central tube, rather than to the influence of
the bed height on the process of mass transfer.
 M. Knežević, D. Povrenović / Chemical Engineering Science 134 (2015) 129–137
Fig. 9. Influence of the bed mass on the resultant leakage flow rate.
Fig. 10. Influence of the bed mass on kL a values.
Despite the increased leakage, improved circulation which also
occurs with the increase of bed mass contributes to the rise in kL a
values, hence the kL a value dependence of the bed mass is not
significant.
In spout–fluid bed reactors with a draft tube particles move in a
circular way. Their movement goes from the bottom of the central
tube to its top and then continues through the annulus down to
the inlet region, where again they are “sucked” into the draft tube.
The influence of particle motion on volumetric mass transfer
coefficient was tested by comparing two systems with the same
particle size and the same inlet fluid flow rate. The first system
was a regular spout–fluid bed reactor with particle circulation,
while in the second system a barrier was placed under the central
tube, so the particle circulation was disabled. The obtained results
are shown in Fig. 11, and the kL a values for the two systems
differed significantly. The higher value of the volumetric mass
transfer coefficient characterized the system with a well developed
spout–fluid bed, indicating that particle circulation improves
oxygen mass transfer between the two phases.
A similar experiment, studying the volumetric mass transfer in a
system with a spout–fluid bed and a draft tube, hasn´t been found in
the available literature and therefore it is not possible to directly
compare the results of this study with other studies. Examinations of
different three-phase systems, and determining the kL a values in
135
Fig. 11. Influence of particle circulation on kL a values.
them, gave the following ranges of values: 0.005–0.0075 s  1 (Mena
et al., 2011), 0.008–0.07 s  1 (Lee et al., 2013), 0.007–0.068 s  1 (Chang
et al., 1986), 0.008–0.057 s  1 (Hamdad et al., 2007), 0.07–0.22 s  1
(Miura et al., 2012).
The magnitude of the kL a values obtained in these examina-
tions show that three-phase spout–fluid bed with a draft tube can
potentially be used in microbial wastewater treatment because
their unique configuration allows intense contact between the
phases and enables stable operation of aerobic processes.
4. Conclusions
The main objective of this experimental study was to examine
the volumetric mass transfer coefficient kL a dependence of fluid-
mechanical system parameters in spout–fluid bed with a draft tube.
Distribution of the inlet fluid flow between the annulus and the
spout is characteristic for spout–fluid bed reactors with a draft
tube. Fluid leakage occurs regardless of whether air is present in
the annulus or not. The amount of fluid that will move from the
spout to the annulus and vice versa, depends on fluid flow rate
values, the geometrical characteristics of the system and the
characteristics of the solid phase.
Experimental results obtained in this study show that increase
in particle diameter from 3 to 6 mm, for glass spheres used in this
system, contributes to the increase of the volumetric mass transfer
coefficient value. Increase in gas and liquid flow rates, as well as
particle circulation, also contribute to the kL a value increase.
Mass transfer efficiency is considerably affected by the circular
movement of the particles. Higher kL a values were obtained in the
system with a formed spout–fluid bed than in the system with a
fixed or a fluidized bed.
The results obtained in these examinations can be utilized in
defining conditions for an efficient oxygen mass transfer in a
particular system and maintaining optimal aerobic conditions in a
nitrification reactor.
Notation
Q s ð0Þ Spout inlet flow rate, m3 =h
Q A ð0Þ Annulus liquid inlet flow rate, m3 =h
Qs Liquid flow rate in the draft tube, m3 =h
QA Liquid flow rate in the annulus, m3 =h
Q Total liquid flow rate through a column, m3 =h
136 M. Knežević, D. Povrenović / Chemical Engineering Science 134 (2015) 129–137
Qg Annulus air flow rate, L=h
Gp Particles mass flow rate, g=s
dp Particle diameter mm
kL a Volumetric mass transfer coefficient, s  1
M Particle bed mass in the column, kg
Ct Dissolved oxygen concentration in the liquid, mg=L
Cn Saturation dissolved oxygen concentration in the
liquid, mg=L
C0 Dissolved oxygen concentration in the liquid for t ¼ 0,
mg=L
Acknowledgment
This work has been supported by the Ministry of Education,
Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia
under Grant no. 172022.
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