A Non-Linear Analysis of a Bubble Column with Autocatalytic Reactions

Bubble column reactors are often used in the process industry to carry out gas/liquid reactions. Key features of this type of reactors are their simple construction and the excellent temperature control. They are widely used in biotechnological processes as fermentation and waste water treatment for the favorable mixing and mass transfer properties [1]. In spite of practical and theoretical interest, only few works are devoted to the dynamical behaviour of bubble column reactors. It is well known that multiplicity of steady states and dynamic solutions are experimentally observed and theoretically predicted in gas-liquid CSTR; thus, it is expected that such phenomena might occur in bubble columns as well [2–4]. The knowledge of the complete dynamical characterization of a model could be of value to study plant design and control [5]. In the present work, a dynamical model of a bubble column reactor, where a generic autocatalytic reaction takes place, is analyzed with tools typical of non-linear analysis [6]. A thorough description of both static and dynamic attractors is presented for typical operating conditions. The superficial gas velocity and the liquid velocity are considered as bifurcation parameters.

Bubble column reactors are often used in the process industry to carry out gas/liquid reactions. Key features of this type of reactors are their simple construction and the excellent temperature control. They are widely used in biotechnological processes as fermentation and waste water treatment for the favorable mixing and mass transfer properties. In spite of practical and theoretical interest, only few works are devoted to the dynamical behaviour of bubble column reactors. It is well known that multiplicity of steady states and dynamic solutions are experimentally observed and theoretically predicted in gas-liquid CSTR; thus, it is expected that such phenomena might occur in bubble columns as well [2-4]. The knowledge of the complete dynamical characterization of a model could be of value to study plant design and control [5]. In the present work, a dynamical model of a bubble column reactor, where a generic autocatalytic reaction takes place, is analyzed with tools typical of non-linear analysis [6]. A thorough description of both static and dynamic attractors is presented for typical operating conditions. The superficial gas velocity and the liquid velocity are considered as bifurcation parameters.