9 - Design of crystallization process systems

Abstract

This chapter describes the aspects of the design of industrial crystallization processes as systems. Methods for the prediction of the crystal size distribution based on the population balance are now well established. Similarly, computational methods to predict crystal morphology and purity are being developed in which molecular modeling features strongly. The chapter provides e simple methods to predict the required size of both crystallizer and subsequent solid–liquid separation units. Computer software packages are also becoming more available that can assist in calculating quantities, such as crystal sizes, vessel volumes, energy dissipation and flow patterns, supersaturation and temperature profiles, as wll as power input. Considerable progress has also been made in the implementation of process control. The chapter also provides sufficient data for process synthesis of the flowsheet, which permits the optimization of the “base case” process design that can be used for preliminary economic evaluation of the process.