Characterization of Minimum Impeller Speed for Suspension of Solids in Liquid at High Solid Concentration, Using Gamma-Ray Densitometry

The successful design and operation of Liquid-Solid (LS) and Gas-Liquid-Solid (GLS) stirred tank reactors requires an accurate determination of the level of solid suspension needed for the process at hand. A poor design of the stirred tank to achieve optimum conditions and maintain the system under...

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Main Authors: Rouzbeh Jafari, Philippe A. Tanguy, Jamal Chaouki
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:International Journal of Chemical Engineering
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/945314
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author Rouzbeh Jafari
Philippe A. Tanguy
Jamal Chaouki
author_facet Rouzbeh Jafari
Philippe A. Tanguy
Jamal Chaouki
author_sort Rouzbeh Jafari
collection DOAJ
description The successful design and operation of Liquid-Solid (LS) and Gas-Liquid-Solid (GLS) stirred tank reactors requires an accurate determination of the level of solid suspension needed for the process at hand. A poor design of the stirred tank to achieve optimum conditions and maintain the system under these conditions during operation may cause significant drawbacks concerning product quality (selectivity and yield) and cost. In this paper, the limitations of applying conventional measurement techniques for the accurate characterization of critical impeller speed for just off-bottom suspension (NJS) at high solid concentrations are described. Subsequently, the Gamma-Ray Densitometry technique for characterizing NJS is introduced, which can overcome the limitations of previous experimental techniques. The theoretical concept of this method is explained, and experimental validation is presented to confirm the accuracy of the Gamma-Ray Densitometry technique. The effects of clearance, scale, and solid loading on NJS for several impellers are discussed. Experimental NJS values are compared with correlations proposed in the literatures, and modifications are made to improve the prediction. Finally, by utilizing the similarity to the incipient movement of solid particles in other systems, a theoretical model for NJS prediction is presented.
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spelling doaj-art-9ea4c4c4eb6e4c1ba9253dd611dfd7b02025-08-20T02:18:31ZengWileyInternational Journal of Chemical Engineering1687-806X1687-80782012-01-01201210.1155/2012/945314945314Characterization of Minimum Impeller Speed for Suspension of Solids in Liquid at High Solid Concentration, Using Gamma-Ray DensitometryRouzbeh Jafari0Philippe A. Tanguy1Jamal Chaouki2Department of Chemical Engineering, École Polytechnique de Montréal, P.O. Box 6079, Station Centre-Ville, Montreal, QC, H3C 3A7, CanadaDepartment of Chemical Engineering, École Polytechnique de Montréal, P.O. Box 6079, Station Centre-Ville, Montreal, QC, H3C 3A7, CanadaDepartment of Chemical Engineering, École Polytechnique de Montréal, P.O. Box 6079, Station Centre-Ville, Montreal, QC, H3C 3A7, CanadaThe successful design and operation of Liquid-Solid (LS) and Gas-Liquid-Solid (GLS) stirred tank reactors requires an accurate determination of the level of solid suspension needed for the process at hand. A poor design of the stirred tank to achieve optimum conditions and maintain the system under these conditions during operation may cause significant drawbacks concerning product quality (selectivity and yield) and cost. In this paper, the limitations of applying conventional measurement techniques for the accurate characterization of critical impeller speed for just off-bottom suspension (NJS) at high solid concentrations are described. Subsequently, the Gamma-Ray Densitometry technique for characterizing NJS is introduced, which can overcome the limitations of previous experimental techniques. The theoretical concept of this method is explained, and experimental validation is presented to confirm the accuracy of the Gamma-Ray Densitometry technique. The effects of clearance, scale, and solid loading on NJS for several impellers are discussed. Experimental NJS values are compared with correlations proposed in the literatures, and modifications are made to improve the prediction. Finally, by utilizing the similarity to the incipient movement of solid particles in other systems, a theoretical model for NJS prediction is presented.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/945314
spellingShingle Rouzbeh Jafari
Philippe A. Tanguy
Jamal Chaouki
Characterization of Minimum Impeller Speed for Suspension of Solids in Liquid at High Solid Concentration, Using Gamma-Ray Densitometry
International Journal of Chemical Engineering
title Characterization of Minimum Impeller Speed for Suspension of Solids in Liquid at High Solid Concentration, Using Gamma-Ray Densitometry
title_full Characterization of Minimum Impeller Speed for Suspension of Solids in Liquid at High Solid Concentration, Using Gamma-Ray Densitometry
title_fullStr Characterization of Minimum Impeller Speed for Suspension of Solids in Liquid at High Solid Concentration, Using Gamma-Ray Densitometry
title_full_unstemmed Characterization of Minimum Impeller Speed for Suspension of Solids in Liquid at High Solid Concentration, Using Gamma-Ray Densitometry
title_short Characterization of Minimum Impeller Speed for Suspension of Solids in Liquid at High Solid Concentration, Using Gamma-Ray Densitometry
title_sort characterization of minimum impeller speed for suspension of solids in liquid at high solid concentration using gamma ray densitometry
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/945314
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AT jamalchaouki characterizationofminimumimpellerspeedforsuspensionofsolidsinliquidathighsolidconcentrationusinggammaraydensitometry