SIMULATION AND EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF POWER CONSUMPTION, GAS DISPERSION AND MASS TRANSFER COEFFICIENT IN A MULTI-PHASE STIRRED BIOREACTOR

Abstract Bio-oxidation leaching of refractory gold concentrate was carried out in a typical gas-liquid-solid three-phase stirred bioreactor. The bacteria, which adhered to solid particle surfaces and spread over the liquid phase, require sufficient oxygen and nutrient of carbon and nitrogen, and then the mass transfer rate should be considered. However, the mass transfer coefficient, which could be used to evaluate the mass transfer rate, was determined by gas holdup, bubble diameter and power consumption. Therefore, a three-phase Eulerian equation with k-ε turbulence model and additional models of two bubble diameter, a torque and a mass transfer coefficient were applied in the simulation. The simulation results were validated with experimental data and used to analyze the spatial distribution of the mass transfer coefficient. The results demonstrated that the simulation and experimental data of Sauter mean bubble diameter and power number were in good agreement and the simulation results of the mass transfer coefficient were agree with the values calculated by an empirical correlation. The Davoody model can be strongly recommended for further simulation of the bubble diameter, and the gas holdup and mass transfer coefficient were very unevenly distributed in the lower zone. Hence, the lower impeller clearance should be considered.