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Content archived on 2024-06-18

Bubbles on the Cutting Edge

Objective

Many processes in the chemical, petrochemical and/or biological industries involve three phase gas-liquidsolid flows, where the solid material acts as a catalyst carrier, the gas phase supplies the reactants for the (bio-)chemical transformations and the liquid phase carries the product. In these processes the performance and operation of the reactor is mostly constrained by the interfacial mass transfer rate and the achievable insitu heat removal rate. A micro-structured bubble column reactor that significantly improves these crucial properties is proposed in this project. This novel type of reactor takes advantage of micro-structuring of the catalyst carrier in the form of a wire-mesh (see Figure 1).
The aim of the wire-mesh is i) to cut bubbles into smaller pieces leading to a larger interfacial area, ii) to enhance the bubble interface dynamics and mass transfer due to the interaction between the bubbles and the wires, and iii) to save costs in practical operation due to the smaller required reactor volume and the fact that
there is no need for an external filtration unit.
Cutting edge three-phase direct numerical simulation (DNS) tools and novel non-invasive optical (highspeed camera) techniques are used to study the micro-scale interaction between bubbles and a wire-mesh to gain understanding of the splitting and merging of bubbles and associated mass transfer characteristics. Furthermore, a proof-of-principle of the micro-structured reactor will be given through lab-scale experiments and macroscopic Euler-Lagrange numerical simulations, employing bubble-wire interaction closures based on the DNS simulations.
In addition to the novel reactor type, the project will generate a broad set of fundamental numerical and experimental research tools that can be used for the improvement of various gas-liquid-solid processes.
Several large companies (AkzoNobel, DSM, Sabic and Shell) have indicated their interest in the proposed
project and would like to be involved in a users committee.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

ERC-2010-StG_20091028
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

ERC-SG - ERC Starting Grant

Host institution

TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT EINDHOVEN
EU contribution
€ 1 500 000,00
Address
GROENE LOPER 3
5612 AE Eindhoven
Netherlands

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Region
Zuid-Nederland Noord-Brabant Zuidoost-Noord-Brabant
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

No data

Beneficiaries (1)

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