With the dramatic increase in the international oil price, gas-to-liquid processes of Fischer -Tropsch (FT) synthesis, methanol synthesis, and dimethyl ether (DME) synthesis have become increasingly important and received much attention from both academic and industrial interests. The slurry reactor has the advantages of simple construction, excellent heat transfer performance, online catalyst addition and withdrawal, and a reasonable interphase mass transfer rate with low energy input, which make it very suitable for gas-to-liquid processes. However, its multiphase flow behaviors are very complex and the multiphase reactor has some remarkable scale-up effects; therefore, extensive studies are still needed for the development and design of a high-performance slurry reactor. This article gives a state-of-the-art review of the recent studies on the slurry reactor for gas-to-liquid processes. The influences of the superficial gas velocity, operating pressure and temperature, solid concentration, column dimensions, and gas distributor are discussed. Some recent developments in the liquid-solid separation in a slurry reactor are also summarized. The concept of using internals to intensify the mass transfer and improve the hydrodynamics is discussed based on both experimental results and theoretical analysis. Modeling and simulations of the gas -liquid and gas-liquid-solid flows are briefly reviewed, with focus on the new trend of coupling the population balance model (PBM) into the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) framework to describe the complex bubble behaviors and gas-liquid interphase interactions. The results of a 3000 ton/year pilot plant for DME synthesis are given, showing that the slurry reactor has promising applications in gas-to-liquid processes. Fast development of the world economy and increase of the international oil price have made the global energy and environmental problems increasingly serious. The supply of coal is much more abundant than that of oil; therefore, the development of coal-based technologies for producing clean fuel is very important for the sustainable development of the economy and of the energy supply for the world. Gas-to-liquid processes of Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis, methanol synthesis, and dimethyl ether (DME) synthesis have become increasingly important and received much attention from both academic and industrial interests. 1-9 Besides providing clean fuel, the products of gasto-liquid processes can be further produced to many other chemical products. 10

Slurry Reactors for Gas-to-Liquid Processes: A Review

Effect of contaminants on mass transfer coefficients in bubble column and airlift contactors

Liquid-phase mass transfer coefficient in bioreactors have been examined. A theoretical model based on the surface renewal concept has been devloped. The predicted liquid-phase mass transfer coefficients are compared with the experimental data for a mycelial fermentation broth (Chaetomium cellulolyticum) and model media (carboxymethyl cellulose) in a bench-scale bubble column reactor. The liquid-phase mass transfer coefficient is evaluated by dividing the volumetric mass transfer coefficient obtained experimentally by the specific surface area estimated using the available correlations. The available literature data in bubble column and stirred tank bioreactors is also used to test the validity of the proposed model. A reasonable agreement between the model and the experimental data is found.

Liquid-phase mass transfer coefficients in bioreactors.

Foaming: Consequences, prevention and destruction

Experimental data on the average mass transfer liquid film coefficient (kL) in an aerated stirred tank are presented. Liquid media used were tap water, electrolyte solutions and water with controlled addition of tensioactive material. Values of kL range from those expected for bubbles with a mobile surface to those expected for rigid bubbles. These data are quantitatively interpreted in terms of bubble contamination kinetics, using a stagnant cap model, according to which bubbles suddenly change from a mobile interface to a rigid condition when surface tension gradients, caused by surfactant accumulation, balance out shear stress.

Gas-liquid mass transfer coefficient in stirred tanks interpreted through bubble contamination kinetics

The effects of surfactants and antifoam agent on the gas holdup e, the liquid-phase mass transfer coefficient kL and the volumetric liquid-phase mass transfer coefficient kLa in a bubble column were studied experimentally. An addition of surfactants such as n-alcohols to water increases e and decreases kL, and an addition of antifoam agent to water decreases e, kL and kLa. However, the degree of reduction of kL value by an addition of surfactant to water is lower for bubble swarms in a bubble column than that for a single bubble in stagnant liquid. Based on these observations, the previous model for estimating kL of a single bubble in aqueous solutions of surface-active substance is modified so as to be applicable to the estimation of kL for bubble swarms in a bubble column.

Shigehiko Harada

Papers

Effects of surface-active substances on gas holdup and gas-liquid mass transfer in bubble column