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Outline
Objective/Problem Description
Typical Modeling Assumptions
Mesh Recommendations
Selection of Physical Models
Boundary Conditions
Other Problem Inputs
Solver Settings and Solution Strategy
Postprocessing
Troubleshooting/FAQs
Objective/Problem Description
Bubble column
Gas sparged at the bottom of vessel
containing liquid
Bubbles are formed at sparger and
continuously rise towards top of
liquid column
Drag of bubbles raises liquid level
from H0 to new height H
Gas holdup is calculated as 1-H0/H Bubbles
Examples
Fischer-Tropsch synthesis
Gas
2006 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved.
H
H0
Mesh Recommendations
Shape of bubble column is typically simple so hex
mesh is mainly used
Use hex mesh where possible or good quality tet
mesh
General recommendation: skewness below
0.8/0.85 for hex and below 0.9 for tetrahedral
meshes
Smooth change in the mesh size (avoid large
jump in the mesh size)
Often there is no need of boundary layer or advanced
wall treatment
Boundary Conditions
Pressure
outlet
gback = 1
Hd
gback = 1
Velocity
inlet
gin , U gin
lin = 0, U lin = 0
Boundary Conditions
Bottom sparger design
All bottom designs
have geometrical
features much
smaller than bubble
diameter
Example sparger in
shape of small holes
arranged in circular
pattern can be
replaced by circular
mesh layer with
appropriately scaled
gas flow rate
Real inlets
Model Setup
Please make sure that the grid has been properly
scaled
Perform a grid check to find any problems before
iterating the solution
Grid-Reorder-domain
First enable turbulence
Define materials for both phases
Define phases and their interaction (drag)
In OPERATING CONDITIONS panel, set gravity
vector and specify operating pressure to 0 Pa
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g = 10 4
2006 ANSYS, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Postprocessing
To calculate a holdup, pressure XY plots can
be used. Plot static pressure in direction of
gravity vector
For 2D along the axis
For 3D on middle cut surface parallel to
gravity vector
Static
pressure
Holdup=1-H0/H
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Troubleshooting
If solution diverges at start up, please make sure:
Gravity points to the bottom of column and liquid
height is properly initialized
Backflow VOF of gas is 0 at top boundary
(pressure outlet)
Inlet and outlet turbulence values are proper
Bubble diameter and drag law are correct
Initialization is important see slide 12 on how to
initialize
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Troubleshooting
If after checkup list, you still have divergence
try lowering time step size by a factor of 10
If still diverging in 2D, try to running model in
3D
If still diverging, please contact technical
support
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Convergence
Use standard convergence criteria for all
variables
Use 10-15 maximum iterations per time step
If using larger time step increase max
iteration number to 25
It is OK to not fully converge at every time
step as long as total liquid mass is conserved
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