CFD-PBM Coupled with Dynamic Interfacial Tension Model for Simulating Liquid–Liquid Two-Phase Flow and Interphase Mass Transfer in a Pulsed Column

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation has proven to be a powerful tool in studying the two-phase flow. The dynamic change of interfacial tension under mass transfer conditions has a significant influence on the accuracy of the simulation, yet it has never been considered in previous study because of the lack of experimental data on dynamic interfacial tension (DIFT). In this study, the DIFT model from previous work (Wang et al., AIChE J. 2024; e18411) is incorporated into the CFD-population balance model simulation to simulate two-phase flow in a pulsed column under conditions of mass transfer. Simulation results, including the cumulative droplet size distribution (Q3) and solute concentration in two phases, are in good agreement with experimental results, demonstrating the necessity of the DIFT model. As height decreases, it is found that the reduction in mass transfer flux and solute concentration, leading to an increase in DIFT, is the reason for the decrease in droplet breakup frequency.