A four-way coupled numerical investigation of draft tube baffled crystallizer

Abstract

In the present paper, the liquid–solid two-phase turbulent flow in a Draft Tube Baffled crystallizer has been simulated using Computational Fluid Dynamics. In this respect, multiphase Eulerian model along with population balance equations were applied. To implement four-way coupling, aggregation and breakage were considered. The RNG k-ε and RSM turbulence models were employed to conduct numerical simulation of two phase turbulent flow. Results demonstrated that applying RNG k-ε and RSM turbulence models, a significant difference in axial velocity profiles along the x-axis is observed, while those along the z-axis exhibit less difference. Moreover, a significant difference in volume fraction between the two models was observed which mostly concerns the region within the draft tube and the distance between the baffle and crystallizer wall. Furthermore, changing the propeller speed from 165 to 495 rpm, the speed of 330 rpm showed to be optimal in terms of particles residence time. The results also showed that a rise in impeller speed is one of the major contributors to mass exchange enhancement between the liquid and the solid phases. Accordingly, as the impeller speed rises, the rate of mass exchange increases from 9.92 kg/h for 165 rpm to 29.07 kg/h for 495 rpm.