Gas‐liquid mass transfer in two and three‐phase upflows through a vertical tube

Oxygen absorption rates were measured to determine volumetric coefficients of gas‐liquid mass transfer coefficients k L a in gas‐liquid and gas‐liquid‐solid upward flows through a vertical tube. The liquid was deionized water or aqueous glycerol solution, and the solids were glass beads or polystyrene beads. The dependencies of k L a on gas velocity, liquid velocity, temperature, solid material, and solid concentration were examined. The experimental results were correlated with empirical equations. The mechanisms of the solid loading effect are discussed.