화학공학소재연구정보센터
Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, Vol.64, 124-133, August, 2018
CFD simulation of fluid flow in a novel prototype radial mixed plug-flow reactor
E-mail:,
This research describes a simulation based on three dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) in a semi-continuous PFR reactor. The commercial software FLUENT 6.3 was employed to solve the governing equations. The gas-liquid flow was modeled using an Eulerian multiphase and k-ε turbulence (RNG) model. Hydrodynamics investigated for different total solid (TS) levels and mixing regime using multiple reference frame (MRF) model within the whole multiphase bioreactor. The simulation results in a prototype reactor are validated against the experimental data. Simulation results indicate that flow pattern within the reactor was highly influenced by the substrate density and viscosity, and stirring intensity. Moreover, substrate density and viscosity are variable according to the TS content. The results demonstrate adequate mixing process providing the required amount and intensity of mixing for uniform distribution of reactor content and needed conditions to improve the reactor performance. Comparison of three impeller mixing speed in a reactor demonstrates that mixing intensity has affected the gas phase above the fluid surface. Such a mixing intensity may create a turbulent region with a homogenous mixture of gas and liquid, which is not suitable for this anaerobic digestion.
  1. Khanal SK, A John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Publication, USA, 2008.
  2. Terashima M, Goel R, Komatsu K, Yasui H, Takahashi H, Li YY, Noike T, Bioresour. Technol., 100(7), 2228 (2009)
  3. Dai XH, Li XS, Zhang D, Chen YG, Dai LL, Bioresour. Technol., 216, 323 (2016)
  4. Bello-Mendoza R, Sharratt PN, J. Chem. Technol. Biotechnol., 71(2), 121 (1998)
  5. Wu B, Water Res., 44, 1507 (2010)
  6. Wu B, Water Res., 44, 3861 (2010)
  7. Kaparaju P, Buendia I, Ellegaard L, Angelidakia I, Bioresour. Technol., 99(11), 4919 (2008)
  8. Karim K, Varma R, Vesvikar M, Al-Dahhan MH, Water Res., 38, 3659 (2004)
  9. Bridgeman J, Adv. Eng. Software, 44, 54 (2012)
  10. Wu B, Water Res., 45, 2082 (2011)
  11. Alexandra MM, Energy Environ., 2, 963 (2011)
  12. Karim K, Hoffmann R, Klasson KT, Al-Dahhan MH, Water Res., 39, 3597 (2005)
  13. Wu B, Trans. ASABE, 53, 553 (2010)
  14. Wu BX, Biotechnol. Bioeng., 109(3), 804 (2012)
  15. Yu LA, Ma JW, Chen SL, Bioresour. Technol., 102(2), 1012 (2011)
  16. Trad Z, Fontaine JP, Larroche C, Vial C, Chem. Eng. J., 329, 142 (2017)
  17. Trad Z, Vial C, Fontaine JP, Larroche C, Chem. Eng. Sci., 170, 606 (2017)
  18. Zhang Y, Yu GR, Yu L, Siddhu MAH, Gao MJ, Abdeltawab AA, Al-Deyab SS, Chen XC, Bioresour. Technol., 203, 166 (2016)
  19. Trad Z, Vial C, Fontaine JP, Larroche C, Chem. Eng. J., 282, 77 (2015)
  20. Zhang Y, Nie Z, Zhao Y, Li C, Wang R, Si J, Xiao M, Opt. Express, 18, 10963 (2010)
  21. Zhang Y, Wang Z, Nie Z, Li C, Chen H, Lu K, Xiao M, Phys. Rev. Lett., 106, 093904 (2011)
  22. Kaparaju P, Angelidaki I, Bioresour. Technol., 99(5), 1345 (2008)
  23. Lusk P, Wiselogel A, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, 1998.
  24. Chanakya HN, Reddy BVV, Modak J, Renew. Energy, 34(2), 416 (2009)
  25. Lansing S, Martin JF, Botero RB, da Silva TN, da Silva ED, Bioresour. Technol., 101(12), 4362 (2010)
  26. Lansing S, Viquez J, Martinez H, Botero R, Martin J, Ecol. Eng., 34, 332 (2008)
  27. Masse DI, Gilbert Y, Saady NM, Liu C, Environ. Technol., 34, 2617 (2013)
  28. Ferrer I, Garfi M, Uggetti E, Ferrer-Marti L, Calderon A, Velo E, Biomass Bioenerg., 35(5), 1668 (2011)
  29. Cournoyer M, Chagnon R, Eng P, ASAE, paper No. 84-4562 (1984).
  30. Rasouli M, Ajabshirchi Y, Mousavi SM, Nosrati M, Yaghmaei S, Biosci. Biotechnol. R Asia, 12, 2333 (2015)
  31. Azargoshasb H, Mousavi SM, Amani T, Jafari A, Nosrati M, J. Ind. Eng. Chem., 27, 207 (2015)
  32. Schiller L, Naumann Z, Z. Ver. Deutsch. Ing., 77, 318 (1935)
  33. Fluent I, FLUENT 6.3 User’s Guide, Fluent, Inc., Lebanon, NH, 2006.
  34. Mavaddat P, Mousavi SM, Amini E, Azargoshasb H, Shojaosadati SA, Asia Pac. J. Chem. Eng., 9, 562 (2014)
  35. Committee V, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, New York (2009).
  36. Craig KJ, Nieuwoudt MN, Niemand LJ, Water Res., 47, 4485 (2013)
  37. Roache PJ, Hermosa Publishers, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1998.
  38. Levenspiel O, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 38(11), 4140 (1999)
  39. Chen Y, Trans. ASAE, 24, 187 (1981)
  40. Nienow A, Chem. Eng. Prog., 85, 61 (1990)
  41. Inglis SF, Gooch CA, Aneshansley D, Cleanout of a Plug-Flow Anaerobic Digester after Five Years of Continuous Operation (2007).