Gas-Liquid

Throughout industry components are mixed in stirred vessels or pipes. The challenge is to determine exactly how well the ingredients are being mixed.

Conductivity maps for gas-liquid dispersion from a central sparger located at the bottom of the mixer for Rushton turbine (at 100 rpm) showing the effect of sparge rate (Williams et al., 1998).

Factors such as the composition and nature of the ingredients, the position, speed and design of the stirrer and the structure of the vessel all contribute to mixing effectiveness.

Any reduction in mixing effectiveness:

- may increase the mixing time with consequential reduction in capacity

- increase the energy consumption

- reduce the yield and quality of the downstream processes.

The challenge is to improve understanding and detailed knowledge of the mixing and hence improve performance and availability. Often the structure is complex and the nature of the ingredients and the operating conditions make visual inspection either impossible or hazardous.

Key benefits include:

It has been widely demonstrated that ERT technology can be applied to a range of mixing processes. The benefits to the customers are:

• At the R&D stage of mixing development, improved process understanding and validation of CFD models to aid process design and scale-up.

• Through measurement improved control and product quality in industrial reactors.

• Higher yields through improved mixing with shorter mixing time and less energy consumption.

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