Effect of addition of alcohol on the design parameters of mechanically agitated three-phase reactors

Abstract

The effect of the presence of isopropyl alcohol on the design parameters of gas-liquid-solid systems has been studied in a vessel with an internal diameter of 0.57 m. A pitched blade downflow turbine was used as an impeller. Isopropyl alcohol concentration was varied from 0 to 2 vol.%. Air and quartz particles of 2000 μ m in size were used as the gas and solid phase, respectively. The solid loading (X) was varied from 0 to 15 wt.%. The impeller speed and superficial gas velocity were varied in the range of 2.4 to 10 rev s⁻¹ and 0 to 9.4 mm s⁻¹ respectively. The variations of power number and mixing time with respect to impeller speed were found to be similar. The effect of isopropanol concentration on the power consumption, liquid phase mixing time, critical impeller speed for gas dispersion, critical impeller speed for solid suspension and fractional gas hold up have been studied.