In a laboratory-scale gas-lift loop reactor with annular bubbling

some hydrodynamic properties

such as gas hold-up in riser and liquid circulation were investigated. The drift flux model was used to study gas hold-up in riser. The relationship among εa

ug and u1 was established as follows: where um =ug +u1

Co = 1.58

vb = 30. 1cm/s. Based on the principle of minimum energy dissipation

the equation of liquid circulation was derived

that is

where K{= [2HgDe/(3λLe]0.5} is a structure parameter

which can be figured out by fitting the experimental data with the equation. According to this equation

the mechanism of circulation can be revealed. Furthermore

because of its general feature

the equation can be used for the description of liquid circulation in any gas-lift loop reactor.