Gas inducing type mechanically agitated contactors

Abstract

The rate of gas induction was measured in 0.57, 1.0, and 1.5 m i.d. gas inducing types of mechanically agitated contactors (GIMAC). The ratio of impeller diameter to vessel diameter was varied in the range 0.13 < D/T < 0.59. The effect of impeller submergence from the top and impeller clearance from the bottom was investigated in detail. The effect of impeller speed was studied in the range 0.13 < N < 13.5 r/s. A model has been developed for the critical speed for gas induction, and for the rate of gas induction with the description of forced vortex structure in the impeller region. A unified theme has been proposed for the understanding of phenomena such as the critical speed for gas induction and the rate of gas induction. The physical significance of model parameters has been interpreted on the basis of flow information in the impeller region.