Optimization of reagents injection in a stirred batch reactor by numerical simulation

• Published in: Computers & chemical engineering Vol. 60; pp. 307 - 314
• Main Authors: Vite-Martínez, P., Durán-Valencia, C., Cruz-Maya, J.A., Ramírez-López, A., López-Ramírez, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 10.01.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Batch reactor; CFD; Computational methods in fluid dynamics; Concentration; Curve; Evolution; Exact sciences and technology; Fluid dynamics; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Physics; Rotational flow and vorticity; Tracer; CFD; Curve; Evolution; Concentration; Batch reactor; Tracer; Averaging method; Mixing; Turbulent flow; Conservation; Convection diffusion equation; Convection; Optimization; Stirred tank reactor; K epsilon model; Modelling; Chemical reactors; Reynolds equation; Monitoring; Isothermal condition; Computational fluid dynamics; Stirring; Injection; Mass transfer; Incompressible flow; Distributor; Refining; Batch process; Vortex flow; Incompressible fluid; Tracers
• ISSN: 0098-1354; 1873-4375
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compchemeng.2013.09.005

•We simulate the fluid flow behavior in a stirred batch reactor.•We analyze the reactor performance through tracer evolution curve analysis.•We identify the best reagent feeding zone in the reactor. Computational fluids dynamic was used to analyze the mixing operation within a stirred batch reactor to distribute rapid and homogeneously reagents, used in the refining process of liquid lead. The flow pattern and distribution of the reagents inside the reactor were analyzed through tracer response curves obtained by numerical simulation. The predominant mechanism of momentum and mass transfer for macro-mixing is convection for the mean and eddy flows. Based on the assumption that the tracer is distributed in the vessel by convection and diffusion, the dynamic distribution of the tracer concentration inside the stirred batch reactor was calculated by solving the Reynolds-averaged conservation equations and the Realizable κ–ɛ turbulence model. The mean and tracer flow was considered as incompressible, isothermal and single phase under turbulent conditions. To optimize the injection point of reagents in the stirrer batch reactor, several simulated tracer concentration curves were obtained from monitoring points located at different radial and axial positions.