Droplet size distribution in a biphasic liquid reactor for understanding the impact of various dual impeller designs on the morphology of S-PVC

• Published in: The Korean journal of chemical engineering Vol. 40; no. 1; pp. 46 - 56
• Main Authors: Park, Jeil, Lee, Wonhyeong, Lee, Jae W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.01.2023; Springer Nature B.V; 한국화학공학회
• Subjects: Biotechnology; Catalysis; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Correlation; Diameters; Dichloroethane; Dissipation factor; Droplets; Energy dissipation; Impellers; Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering; Materials Science; Polymerization; Polyvinyl chloride; Process Safety; Process Systems Engineering; Sauter mean diameter; Size distribution; 화학공학; Dual Impeller Geometry; S-PVC; Sauter Mean Diameter; Borescope; Maximum Energy Dissipation Rate
• ISSN: 0256-1115; 1975-7220
• DOI: 10.1007/s11814-022-1252-7

This study investigated the effect of dual impeller geometry on the droplet size in the suspension-PVC (S-PVC) polymerization process. To simulate the process, 1,2-dichloroethane was used as a dispersed phase, because it has been used to replace the toxic vinyl chloride monomer (VCM). Using a borescope method, a droplet size was measured for a biphasic liquid system, and the Sauter mean diameter increased by 46.5% as the upper paddle impeller was replaced by 20° pitched paddle. It also increased when the impeller diameter and the blade width increased. Considering this effect, a geometrical factor (F) was revised, and a calculated maximum energy dissipation rate was used for establishing the Sauter mean diameter correlation. The proposed correlation can estimate the Sauter mean diameter within ±20% error, and one can predict the normality of the polymerization under specific impeller geometry using this correlation.