CFD simulation of chemical engineering processes in stirred tank reactors
Term: from 05 / 2004 Funding: base funding |
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Goal
Mixing in stirred vessels is a common operation in the process industry, especially in the fine chemistry, the pharmaceutical industry and the biotechnology. In these branches, STR are widely used for batch and semi-batch processes. Numerical modelling and simulation of mixing processes in STR can contribute to:
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simplification of scale-up procedures in the stage of process development,
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process and plant optimisation,
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hazard analyses and evaluation.
Methods
CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) methods are applied to numerical flow simulation in stirred tank reactors, where CFX® is used as simulation software.
The simulation results are validated experimentally using the following imaging techniques:
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videometry,
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X-ray tomography (e.g. cone beam tomography),
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Gamma tomography.
Results
Transient mixing of initially stratified different density liquids in a stirred tank reactor after stirrer start-up
Gassing of a liquid in a stirred tank reactor using a gas inducing turbine stirrer
Gas hold-up in the impeller region
Further information
A study on the mixing behaviour of different densities liquids in a stirred tank by passive and reactive tracers (Poster) |
Measurement and CFD prediction of a two-phase flow in a STR (Presentation) |
References
- H.V. Hristov, S. Boden, U. Hampel, H. Kryk; Numerical Simulation of a Two-Phase Flow in a Stirred Reactor; Proceedings of 6th International Conference on Multiphase Flow, paper PS6_8, 978-3-86010-913-7
- H.V. Hristov, H.-M. Prasser, H. Kryk, G. Hessel, W. Schmitt; Mixing behaviour of different density liquids in a stirred tank reactor; Chem. Eng. Res. Des. (submitted)