Table 2 Nominal parameter values for the synthesis gas bubble column reactor

Reactor length

L

25 m

Specified

Reactor cross-sectional area

A

5 m²

Specified

Superficial gas velocity

u _G

75 m/h

Specified

Liquid phase velocity

u _L

0.25 m/h

Specified

Liquid phase dispersion coefficient

D _A

0.25 m²/h

Specified

Temperature

T

37 °C

[3]

Pressure at top of column

P _L

1.013×10⁵ Pa

Specified

CO mole fraction in feed gas

x _C

0.6

Specified

H₂ mole fraction in feed gas

x _H

0.4

Specified

CO₂ mole fraction in feed gas

x _D

0

Specified

CO Henry’s law constant

H _C

8×10⁻⁴ mol/L/atm

[35]

H₂ Henry’s law constant

H _H

6.6×10⁻⁴ mol/L/atm

[35]

CO₂ Henry’s law constant

H _D

2.5×10⁻² mol/L/atm

[35]

CO gas–liquid mass transfer coefficient

k _m , _C

80 h⁻¹

[9]

H₂ gas–liquid mass transfer coefficient

k _m , _H

200 h⁻¹

[34]

CO₂ gas–liquid mass transfer coefficient

k _m , _D

80 h⁻¹

Specified

Maximum gas volume fraction

ε _G , _max

0.53

Fit to data

Gas volume fraction saturation constant

K _G

540 m/h

Fit to data

Gas volume fraction

ε _G

0.0646

Calculated

CO concentration at reactor entrance

C _GF

80.64 mmol/L

Calculated

H₂ concentration at reactor entrance

H _GF

53.76 mmol/L

Calculated

CO₂ concentration at reactor entrance

D _GF

0 mmol/L

Calculated

Initial biomass concentration

X ₀

0.1 g/L

Specified

Initial gas phase CO concentration

C _G0

80.64 mmol/L

Calculated

Initial gas phase H₂ concentration

H _G0

53.76 mmol/L

Calculated

Initial gas phase CO₂ concentration

D _G0

0 mmol/L

Calculated

Initial liquid phase CO concentration

C _L0

1.642 mmol/L

Calculated

Initial liquid phase H₂ concentration

H _L0

0.903 mmol/L

Calculated

Initial liquid phase CO₂ concentration

D _L0

0 mmol/L

Calculated

Initial liquid phase ethanol concentration

E _L0

0 mmol/L

Specified

Initial liquid phase acetate concentration

A _L0

0 mmol/L

Specified