Modern Applied Science February, 2009

Gas Hold up in Multiple Impeller Agitated Vessels

Dr. Kaliannan Saravanan
Department of Chemical Engineering
Kongu Engineering Collage
Erode-638 052, India
Tel: 91-4294-226-600 E-mail: [email protected]

Dr. Veerappan Ramamurthy

Department of Chemical Engineering
Anna University
Chennai-600025, India
Tel: 91-44-235-5373 E-mail: [email protected]

Kothandaraman Chandramohan (Corresponding author)

Department of Chemical Engineering
Kongu Engineering College
Erode-638 052, India
Tel: 91-4294-226-600 E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract
Gas hold up was measured in mechanically agitated vessels fitted with dual impellers. Different impellers like Pitched
blade turbine and Disc turbine were used. 5 different combinations of dual impellers were used. A tank of 0.45 m
internal diameter with an impeller diameter of 0.15m was used. Superficial gas velocity was varied from 0.005m/sec to
0.01 m/ sec. Correlations are proposed for gas hold ups for different combinations of impellers. Optimum combination
of dual impellers for maximum gas hold up has been identified. The effect of bottom clearance, inter impeller clearance
and physical properties like surface tension on gas hold up were also studied for the optimum combination of impellers
Keywords: Multiple impeller vessels, Gas hold up, Power per unit volume
1. Introduction
Mixing is an important unit operation and has extensive applications in chemical, bio chemical and pharmaceutical
industries. Mixing means taking two or more phases such as two fluids or a fluid and solid and randomly distributing
one in another.
1.1 Equipment
Mixing can be accomplished in a wide variety of equipment. Mechanically agitated vessels or stirred tank reactors are
popularly used for gas liquid contacting including gas dispersion, solid suspension, crystallization, polymerization,
fermentation, waste treatment etc.
1.2 Multiple Impellers
Vessels with single impeller are used when height to diameter ratio is low. Multiple impellers are used in vessels having
a large height to diameter ratio. Multiple impellers are preferred over single impellers to provide better gas utilization,
narrow spread in the residence time distribution in the flow systems and higher surface area per unit volume for heat
transfer. They also provide low shear compared to single impellers due to overall lower speed of operation at equal
power levels. They can also control the dispersed phase hold up and residence time. They have plug flow characteristics
and consume lower power per impeller compared to single impeller. High gas hold up and good gas distribution are the

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major benefits. Multiple impellers are thus preferred in shear sensitive micro organism- enriched fermentation
reactors.
2. Definitions and Objective of the Study
2.1 Superficial gas velocity (VG):
It is a velocity at which gas passes upwards through (liquid filled) stirred tank. It is calculated as follows.
Superficial gas velocity (m / sec) = Volumetric flow rate of gas (m3/sec)
Cross sectional area of the stirred tank (m2)
2.2 Gas hold up (HG):
It is the ratio of gas phase volume to total volume. Gas holdup is an important hydrodynamic parameter and is a basic
measure of gas-liquid contacting in mechanically agitated tanks. Gas hold up is governed by average bubble size,
population of bubbles and bubble velocity. The interfacial area and mass transfer rate are dependent on holdup. Holdup
also indicates the volume fraction of gas phase and mean residence time of the gas phase in the vessel. It also governs
the velocity or flow field in the vessel, turbulence characteristics in the individual phases and the energy dissipation
rates. Thus a study of gas holdup is important for scaling up and design of stirred tank reactors.
2.3. Measurement
Gas hold up was measured by visual method. A graduated graph paper was pasted on the outside of the vessel in
between two baffles. By noting the difference between level with and without aeration the hold up was found out. The
following equation was used.
HG = (HG H) / HG
Where HG = Height of liquid after aeration (m), H = Height of clear liquid without aeration (m) and HG = (fractional) gas
hold up. It is a dimensionless quantity. Its value generally ranges from 0 to 0.20.
2.4 Objective
The objective of this study is to identify the optimum combination of dual impellers that will give the maximum gas
hold up for a given specific power input power / unit volume. (Watt / m3)
3. Experimental Set-up
3.1 Details of Agitated Vessel
Experiments were conducted in a vertical cylindrical acrylic vessel having a flat bottom. The diameter (T) of the vessel
was 0.45 m and the height of the vessel 1.2 m. The tank is provided with four equally- spaced vertical baffles of width T
/ 10, fixed along the wall of the vessel. A vertical shaft (stirrer) attached to a variable speed DC motor helps to mix the
contents of the vessel. Two impellers were mounted on the shaft. The diameter of each of the impeller D was equal to
T/3. The distance between the lower impeller and the bottom of the vessel bottom clearance C1 was equal to T / 3. The
distance between the lower and upper impeller inter - impeller clearance was equal to D (diameter of the impeller).
The speed of revolution of the stirrer was varied by means of a speed controller. The vessel was filled with tap water up
to a height equal to two times the diameter of the vessel. Air was admitted to the bottom of the vessel using a ring
sparger having a diameter equal to that of the impeller. The diameter of the sparger was 6.0 mm and there ware eight
holes through which air was admitted to the vessel.
Three different types of impellers were used. PTD Pitched Blade Down pumping, PTU Pitched Blade Up pumping
and DT- Disc Turbine. At any point of time two (dual impellers) were used. In all five combinations of impellers were
employed.
PTD PTU means Pitched Blade Turbine Down pumping at the bottom, Pitched Blade Turbine Up pumping at the top.
Similarly DT PTD means Disc turbine at the bottom and Pitched Blade Turbine Down pumping at the top. PTD
PTD, PTD DT and DT DT are other combinations.
Superficial gas velocities used were 0.005 m / sec, 0.008 m / sec and 0.01 m/ sec Stirrer speed was varied from 150 to
1200 rpm. The experiments were conducted at room temperature at about 30 to 31 qC.
The details of experimental set up are given in Table1. Table 2 and 3 give the details of impellers
4. Results and Discussions
4.1 Optimum Combination of impellers
The experimental data were plotted in the form of graphs. In Figure.2 the gas holdup was plotted against power per unit
volume for different combinations of dual impellers. As the gas holdup increases, the power per unit volume also
increases. Thus there is proportionality between holdup and power per unit volume. It is also noted that of all the

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Modern Applied Science February, 2009

combinations DT-PTD combination gives the highest gas holdup. PTD-PTD gives the second highest holdup followed
by DT DT, PTD DT and PTD-PTU combinations. Thus DT-PTD combination was found to be optimum for getting
maximum gas holdup for a given power per unit volume.
4.2 Behaviour of DT PTD combination
In the case of DT-PTD combination the upper impeller-pitched blade down pumping turbine -produces a downward
flow. This together with the radial stream produced by the lower disc turbine increases the axial velocity in downward
direction. This acts against the movement of raising air bubbles and thus helps in the recirculation of air in the upper
regions of the vessel. The upper impeller is responsible for gas dispersion and recirculation. In this case, the upper
impeller is PTD. Mishra et al (1994) have reported that PTD has a higher pumping effectiveness compared to other
impellers like DT. Hence the gas holdup increases significantly. The DT-PTD combination thus gives highest gas
holdup
Figure 3 and 4 exhibit the same trend at higher superficial gas velocities of 0.008m/s and 0.01m/s.
4.3 Effect of superficial gas velocity
Figure.5 represents the effect of superficial gas velocity on the gas holdup. The gas holdup increases as the superficial
gas velocity increases. This is understandable, as the volume of air increases a large population of raising bubbles tends
to increase the hold up.
4.4 Effect of bottom clearance
The distance from the bottom of the impeller to the bottom of the tank is called the bottom clearance. Normally the
value of this bottom clearance equals 1/3 (T) where T is the tank diameter. In this study the bottom clearance was varied
and the effect of this variation on gas holdup was studied. Figure.6 shows the effect of bottom clearance on gas hold up.
The holdup was significantly lower when bottom clearance was T/2 compared to the holdup when the clearance was
T/3. The holdup was lowest when the clearance was T/6.
This is because the pumping effectiveness of the lower impeller decreases with an increase in the bottom clearance.
Also if the clearance is decreased to a low value of T/6 the gas holdup falls significantly. A low clearance leads to
changed flow pattern with high resistance to flow .The holdup thus decreases. This is in line with the observations
reported by Saravanan et al (1994).
4.5 Effect of Inter- Impeller Clearance
The inter impeller clearance is defined as the distance between the centre line of the two impellers. Normally, this
distance is kept equal to the diameter of the impeller. Above this value each impeller sets up its own liquid circulation
loops which do not mix with that produced by other impeller. In this study the effect of inter impeller clearance on gas
holdup was studied. The distance between the impeller was kept at 1.5 D, and 2.0 D and gas hold up was measured. It
was observed that the gas hold up decreases with an increase in the impeller clearance. The gas holdup values for 1.5 D
were significantly lower than that for 1.0 D. Gas hold up values for 2.0 D were lowest. See Figure 7. This is also in line
with the findings reported by Mishra and Joshi (1994) using LDA (Laser Doppler Anemometry) method.
4.6 Effect of Physical properties on gas hold up
The physical properties of the liquid in the vessel, like density, viscosity and surface tension affect the gas hold up. As a
bubble raises up its size and velocity are affected by the physical properties of the liquid through which it raises.
Surface tension does play a part and its effect on gas holds was studied. Figure .8 indicates the effect of surface tension
on gas hold up for a system with air ethanol and T equal to 0.45m, D equal to 0.15m. Impeller speed was 1200rpm
and superficial gas velocity 0.01m/sec. As the surface tension increases the gas holdup falls, because the size of the
bubble and its upward velocity increase. If the surface tension is lower the bubble size and its upward velocity decrease
leading to higher gas holdup. This is in conformity with the findings reported by Loisseau et al (1977).
4.7 Correlation
Based on the data obtained from experiments the following type of empirical correlation is proposed.
b c
HG = a (P / V) (VG) --------------------------------------------(1)
HG = Gas hold up Dimensionless quantity
P = Power consumed by impeller in aerated condition (w)
V = Volume of liquid in the vessel (m3)
VG = Superficial gas velocity (m/sec)
a, b, c = Constants

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The values of all constants a, b and c obtained by regression of experimental data are presented in Table 4. The values
of constants obtained in this work are much lower than that reported by Moucha et al (2003). This is due to the fact that
the latter measured hold up in electrolytic solutions whereas the present work was conducted with air water systems.
The effect of electrolytic solutes on the gas hold up is due to the property of coalescence. The solutes inhibit
coalescence and thus the hold up increases in the presence of electrolytic solutes.
4.8 Comparison of Correlations
The present work is also compared with that of Vasconceles et al (2000). See Figure 9. The gas holdup values reported
by the latter are higher than that reported in the present work. The latter conducted the experiments in a tank of diameter
of 0.39 m whereas a tank of 0.45 m diameter was used in the present work. The gas hold up is dependent on the tank
diameter. As the tank diameter increases the hold up decreases significantly.
4.9 Parity Plots
Figures10 and 11 compare the experimental values with that of theoretical values of gas hold up obtained using the
correlation proposed in this work. Such plots are called Parity Plots. It is noted that the difference between the two
values is less than 15%
5. Conclusions
The gas holdup of dual impeller combination in agitated vessel was studied in detail. Five different dual impeller
combinations - PTD/PTU, PTD/PTD, PTD/DT, DT/PTD, and DT/DT were studied. It was found that DT/PTD
combination gave maximum gas holdup compared to other combinations. The effects of bottom clearance,
inter-impeller clearance and surface tension on gas hold up for the optimum impeller combination were studied. It was
found that a bottom clearance of T/3 gave the maximum holdup followed by T/2, and T/6. It was also found that the
gas hold up was maximum when inter- impeller clearance was D, At values of clearance 1.5D and 2.0 D the gas
hold up was much lower. It was found that gas hold up falls as the surface tension increases.
References
Calderbank P.H. (1958). Physical rate processes in industrial fermentation Part I: The interfacial area with gas liquid
contacting with mechanical agitation, Transactions of institute of Chemical Engineers, 36, 443 460.
Foust H.C, Mack D.C. (1964). Gas liquid contacting in mixtures, Industrial Engineering Chemistry, 36, 517 522.
Hudcova, Machon .V & Nienow .A.W. (1999). Gas liquid dispersion with dual Rushton Turbine impellers Bio
Technology Bio Engineering, 34, 617 628.
Loiseau B.N, Midoux. N &Charpentier J.C (1997). Some Hydrodynamics and power input data in mechanically
agitated gas liquid contactors, American Institute of Chemical Engineers Journal, 23, 931-935.
Miller DW. (1974). Scale up of agitated vessels Gas liquid mass transfer American Institute of Chemical Engineers
journal 20, 445 453.
Mishra B.P, Joshi J.B. (1994). Flow generated by disc turbines Multiple impellers. Chemical Engineering Research
Design. 73 (5), 657-668.
Rushton JH & Bimbinet JJ. (1968). Hold up and flooding in air liquid mixing Canadian journal of Chemical
Engineering, 46, 16 21.
Saravanan K, Mondale V.D & Joshi J.P. (1994). Gas inducing type of mechanically agitated contactors Industrial
Engineering Chemistry Research, 33, 2228 2242.
Vasconcelos J.M, Alves SS & Barata J.M (1995). Mixing in Gas liquid contactors agitated by multiple turbines
Chemical Engineering Science, 50, 2343 2354.

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Table 1. Details of experimental set up

Diameter of the vessel 0.45 m
Height of the vessel 1.2 m
Diameter of the Impeller 0.15 m
Bottom Clearance 0.15 m
Inter impeller clearance 0.15 m
No. of Baffles 4
Height of water in the vessel 0.9 m
Width of Baffles 0.045 m
Type of sparger Ring Sparger
Diameter of the sparger 0.006 m
No. of holes 8
Drive used 2 H.P DC motor with variable speed controller
Type of impellers used PTD Pitched Blade Turbine Down pumping
PTU. Pitched Blade Turbine Up pumping
DT Disc turbine

Table 2. Combinations of dual impellers

Sl.No. Nomenclature Bottom Top
1 PTD PTD Pitched Blade Turbine Down pumping Pitched Blade Turbine
Down pumping
2 PTD- PTU Pitched Blade Turbine Down pumping Pitched Blade Turbine Up
pumping
3 PTD DT Pitched Blade Turbine Down pumping Disc Turbine
4 DT PTD Disc Turbine Pitched Blade Turbine
Down pumping
5 DT DT Disc Turbine Disc Turbine

Table 3. Details of Impellers

Sl.No. Type No. of Blades Blade angle Imp. Diameter Blade width

1 PTD 6 45 q 0.15 m 0.0375 m

2 PTU 6 45 q 0.15 m 0.0375 m

3 DT 6 - 0.15 m 0.0375 m

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Table 4. Values of Constants a, b and c in equation 1

Sl.No. Type a b C Square of correlation coefficient

1 DT-PTD 0.02 0.478 0.4910 0.980

2 PTD-PTD 0.047 0.433 0.6097 0.990

3 DT-DT 0.07135 0.4244 0.6904 0.981

4 PTD-DT 0.0596 0.4459 0.6971 0.974

5 PTD-PTU 0.0768 0.4235 0.7116 0.965

0.1
0.09
0.08
0.07
Gas holdup

0.06
0.05
0.04
0.03
0.02
0.01
0
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000
P/V(W/m 3 )

DT -PT D PT D-PT D DT -DT PT D-DT PT D-PT U

Figure 2.Effect of Impeller combination on gas holdup

(superficial gas velocity 5mm/sec)

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Modern Applied Science February, 2009

0.14

0.12

Gas holdup
0.1

0.08

0.06

0.04

0.02

0
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000
3
P/V(W/m )
DT -PT D PT D-PT D DT -DT
PT D-DT PT D-PT U

Figure.3 Effect of impeller combination on gas hold up

(superficial gas velocity 8mm/sec)

0.18

0.16

0.14

0.12
Gas holdup

0.1

0.08

0.06

0.04

0.02

0
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000
3
P/V(W/m )
DT -PT D PT D-PT D DT -DT
PT D-DT PT D-PT U
Figure.4 Effect of impeller combination on gas holdup
(Superficial gas velocity 10mm/sec)

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0.14

0.12

0.1
Gas hold up

0.08

0.06

0.04

0.02

0
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000
3
P/V(W/m )
(5mm/sec) (8mm/sec) (10mm/sec)

Figure.5 Effect of Superficial gas velocity on gas holdup

(DT-PTD)

0.1

0.09
0.08

0.07

0.06
Gas hold-up

0.05
0.04

0.03

0.02

0.01
0
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000
3
P/V(W/m )
C=T/3 C=T/2 C=T/6
Figure6.Effect of bottom clearance
on gas holdup

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Modern Applied Science February, 2009

0.1
0.09
0.08

0.07
Gas holdup 0.06
0.05
0.04
0.03
0.02

0.01
0
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000
3
P/V(W/m )
c2=D C2=1.5 D C2 =2 D
Figure 7 Effect of inter impeller clearance
on gas holdup (DT PTD)

0.12

0.1

0.08
Gas holdup

0.06

0.04

0.02

0
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0.12
Surface Tension(N/m)
DT -PT D PT D-PT D

Figure 8. Effect of Surface Tension on gas holdup

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0.14

0.12

0.1
Gas holdup
0.08

0.06

0.04

0.02

0
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000
3
P/V(W/m )
Present Work(DT -DT ) Vasconceles
10mm/sec Work(DT -DT )
Figure 9 Comparison of Correlation for gas holdup

0.1
0.09
Predicted gasholdup

0.08
0.07
0.06
0.05
0.04
0.03
0.02
0.01
0
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1
Experimental gas holdup
Predicted Experimental
gas holdup gas holdup

Figure 10 .Comparison of Experimental gas holdup

with Predicted values (5mm/sec)

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Modern Applied Science February, 2009

0.14

0.12

Predicted gas holdup

0.1

0.08

0.06

0.04

0.02

0
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0.12 0.14
Experimental gas holdup
Predicted Experimental
gas holdup gas holdup

Figure 11.Comparison of Experimental gas holdup with

predicted values(8mm/sec)

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