The influence of the density difference on the mixing process in mechanically agitated reactor


The influence of the density difference on the mixing process in mechanically agitated reactor

Hessel, G.; Hristov, H. V.; Kryk, H.; Prasser, H.-M.; Schmitt, W.

A non-baffled stirred vessel reactor was investigated computationally with CFX-5 numerical package. The mixing of two miscible liquids with different densities was dynamically predicted from an initially stratified to a complete mixing condition. Although for a non-baffled vessel an axi-symmetric behaviour can be expected, the process was regarded as three dimensional in order to demonstrate the local instabilities associated with the blade passage. Additionally, the gas phase was involved into the simulations to investigate the effect of the free surface deformation on the mixing process. The two-phase gas-liquid interactions were modelled using the free surface model. The different density liquids were comprised into the liquid phase by the means of the multicomponent model. The grid elements size was kept relatively low because of the dynamic behaviour of the liquid surface central vortex. Furthermore, the available turbulence models were considered to obtain the closest possible match with the experimental observations. In such a way, the stirred vessel hydrodynamics was dynamically calculated in 3-D in order to study the effect of the density difference.
The numerical simulations were evaluated experimentally using video visualisation technique. The lighter (alcoholic) coloured component and the heavier (water) transparent one, which were initially stratified, were brought into motion by the means of the rotating impeller and the mixing process was captured by digital camcorder and subsequently the images were digitally processed. Several points, close to vessel central line and wall, for which the optical distortion was minimal were considered for evaluation of the numerical predictions.
The hydrodynamics of the above described system is of particular concern for many chemical and biochemical reactions engineered to take place in stirred vessel reactor. Although the initial conditions were to some extend idealised in order to avoid some complications raised by the presence on an injection, the studies showed strong influence on the density difference on the homogenisation. Such so called idealised conditions, however, also might occur in the stirred vessel, especially in the case of impeller malfunctioning. In case of impeller stoppage, i.e. breakdown, different density liquids present in the vessel might get stratified. This effect might prove to be of significant importance, especially in the case of reacting liquids for large-scale reactors operating in the industry.

  • Contribution to proceedings
    Conference on Computational Fluid Dynamics in Chemical Reaction Engineering IV, 19.-24.06.2005, Barga, Italy
    CD-ROM
  • Lecture (Conference)
    Conference on Computational Fluid Dynamics in Chemical Reaction Engineering IV, 19.-24.06.2005, Barga, Italy

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Publ.-Id: 7173