Gas-Liquid Mixing in Turbulent Systems

There are many processes in which gas-liquid contacting is important. Gas must be effectively and efficiently contacted with liquid to provide mass transfer (absorption or desorption absorption of gas into liquid to produce a chemical reaction is often a particularly critical duty). Sometimes the gas merely provides energy (via buoyancy, level rise, bubble wakes, bubble coalescence, or gas expansion) for mixing the liquid. 

Different contexts bring different challenges. Fermentations and effluent treatment can be at very large scale but the product value and workup tend to be comparatively low, so mixer capital and energy are importanL whereas mass transfer requirements can be modest (fortunate if the microorganisms are shear sensitive). Gas-liquid reactions in low viscosity liquids 

So for these, scale-up, liquid mixedness, and mass and heat transfer are important but impeller capital and energy cost are not. Chlorinations and sulfonations 

Handbook of Industrial Mixing Science and Practice, Edited by Edward L. Paul, 

How is this chapter different from previous texts on gas-liquid mixing First, it takes the viewpoint of a practitioner with the task of designing or scaUng-up a process vessel, so the spectrum of information, conflicts, and priorities is always in view. There is mention of the more academic side when it helps to provide understanding and therefore confidence in the design methods. Second, there are reviews of some newer features, such as  

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Middleton, J. Smith, J. Gas-liquid mixing in turbulent systems. In Handbook of Industrial Mixing Science and Practice Paul, E.L., Atiemo-Obeng, V.A., Kresta, S.M., Eds. John Wiley and Sons New York, 2003 585-638. 

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