This book presents experimental and numerical methods that have been developed during six years of targeted research within the DFG priority program SPP 1740, elucidating the interaction between hydrodynamics, mass transfer and transport as well as chemical reactions in bubbly flows. A special feature of this book is its focus on an interdisciplinary research approach with contributions from chemistry, mathematics and engineering sciences, providing enhanced or novel experimental methods, models and numerical simulations. This book provides fundamental knowledge to students about the current state of knowledge regarding transport processes in reactive bubbly flows as well as to scientists, emphasizing pressing research questions and further current demands for fundamental research. Engineers from the chemical industries will get valuable insights into relevant gas-liquid processes and benefit from recommendations concerning the design of gas-liquid reactors and laboratory experiments for studying the performance of gas-liquid reactions in their own lab.

Abstract: Results from direct numerical simulations (DNS) of multiphase bubbly flows in vertical and horizontal channels were compared to averaged models of multiphase flows (two-fluid model etc.). The data from the direct numerical simulation were also used to calibrate and improve the averaged models. Steady state laminar flow in a vertical channel was analyzed first. Results from direct numerical simulations are compared with prediction of the steady-state two-fluid model of Antal, Lahey, and Flaherty (1991). The simulations are done assuming a two-dimensional system and the model coefficients are adjusted slightly to match the data for upflow. The model is then tested by comparisons with different values of flow rate and gravity, as well as down flow. Results agree reasonably in the middle of the channel. However, for upflow, model performs poorly near the no-slip wall. To better understand the flow with rising bubbles hugging the no-slip wall, detailed direct numerical simulations of the problem were performed in three dimensions. Deformability of the bubbles was found to play a significant role in the flow structure and averaged flow rate. Finally, the transient buoyancy driven motion of two-dimensional bubbles across a domain bounded by two horizontal walls is studied by. The bubbles are initially released next to the lower wall and as they rise, they disperse. Eventually all the bubbles collect at the top wall. The goal of the study is to examine how a simple one-dimensional model for the averaged void fraction captures the unsteady bubble motion. By using void fraction dependent velocities, where the exact dependency is obtained from simulations of homogeneous bubbly flows, the overall dispersion of the bubbles is predicted. Significant differences remain, however. Results suggest that bubble dispersion by the bubble induced liquid velocity must be included, and by using a simple model for the bubble dispersion improved agreement is found.

Accurately predicting the behaviour of multiphase flows is a problem of immense industrial and scientific interest. Modern computers can now study the dynamics in great detail and these simulations yield unprecedented insight. This book provides a comprehensive introduction to direct numerical simulations of multiphase flows for researchers and graduate students. After a brief overview of the context and history the authors review the governing equations. A particular emphasis is placed on the 'one-fluid' formulation where a single set of equations is used to describe the entire flow field and interface terms are included as singularity distributions. Several applications are discussed, showing how direct numerical simulations have helped researchers advance both our understanding and our ability to make predictions. The final chapter gives an overview of recent studies of flows with relatively complex physics, such as mass transfer and chemical reactions, solidification and boiling, and includes extensive references to current work.

The book summarises the outcom of a priority research programme: "Analysis, Modelling and Computation of Multiphase Flows". The results of 24 individual research projects are presented. The main objective of the research programme was to provide a better understanding of the physical basis for multiphase gas-liquid flows as they are found in numerous chemical and biochemical reactors. The research comprises steady and unsteady multiphase flows in three frequently found reactor configurations, namely bubble columns without interiors, airlift loop reactors, and aerated stirred vessels. For this purpose new and improved measurement techniques were developed. From the resulting knowledge and data, new and refined models for describing the underlying physical processes were developed, which were used for the establishment and improvement of analytic as well as numerical methods for predicting multiphase reactors. Thereby, the development, lay-out and scale-up of such processes should be possible on a more reliable basis.

Bubbly flows are essential in many industrial and environmental applications and several methodologies have been employed to investigate the complex phenomena involved. In the present book Direct Numerical Simulations of bubble swarms in channel flow configuration are reported and several cases are presented. The focus is on the mutual interaction between fluid turbulence and bubble dynamics and the impact on the heat transfer in the two-phase mixture. This analysis concerns flow visualizations and quantitative statistical data regarding the fluid as well as the bubbles which can now be used as reference data for model developing and validation.