Ultrasonic Characterizations of Slurries in a Bubble Column Reactor

An indirect method (ultrasonic) and a direct technique were used to measure solid holdup in a bubble-column reactor. Nitrogen, water, and fine glass beads were used as the gas, liquid, and solid phases, respectively. The solid particle concentration in the slurry was varied from 5 to 30 wt %, and the gas superficial velocity was increased from 0.5 to 12 cm/s. The solid holdup measurements by the ultrasonic technique compared reasonably well with results obtained by the direct sampling technique.