The priority research, Analysis, Modelling and Numerical Calculations
ofMul- tiphase Flows" was running for 6 years (from 1996 to 2002) and
financially sup- ported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG).
The main objective ofthe research programme was to provide a better
understanding of the physical basis for multiphase gas-liquid flows as
they are found in numerous chemical and bio- chemical reactors. The
research comprised steady and unsteady multiphase flows in three
frequently found reactor configurations, namely bubble columns without
interiors, loop reactors, and aerated stirred vessels. For this purpose,
new and im- proved measurement techniques should be developed. From the
resulting knowl- edge and data, new and refined models for describing
the underlying physical processes should result, which can be used for
the establishment and improvement of analytic as well as numerical
methods for predicting multiphase reactors. Thereby, the development,
lay-out and scale-up ofsuch processes should be pos- sible on a more
reliable basis. For achieving this objective three research areas were
defined: - development and improvement of experimental techniques which
allow accu- rate measurements in steady and unsteady multiphase flows -
elaboration of new modelling approaches in order to describe the basic
trans- port processes for mass, momentum, and heat in bubbly flows -
development of analytical and numerical methods supplemented by the new
modelling strategies in order to support optimisation and lay-out of
technical multiphase processes.