Chapter 9 - Mixing with a pfaudler type impeller; the effect of micromixing on reaction selectivity in the production of fine chemicals

Abstract

Stirred tank reactors with a Pfaudler type impeller are frequently used in the production of fine chemicals, but information on the mixing performance of this type of impeller is limited. This information is required to predict selectivities of mixing sensitive processes. For low feed rates, which are often used in the production of fine chemicals, the mixing process is controlled by micromixing. To investigate the micromixing in stirred tank reactors with a Pfaudler type impeller, the product distributions of mixing sensitive reaction sets are determined. These experiments show that in a large part of the reactor the product distribution is not a function of feed point position. With a micromixing model (E-model) using the average energy dissipation rate, the product distribution is calculated. The calculated product distributions are in reasonable agreement with the measured product distributions for partially baffled reactors with a Pfaudler type impeller for a broad range of process conditions.