Micromixing in a Rotor-Stator Spinning Disc Reactor

Area of Science:

• Chemical Engineering
• Fluid Dynamics
• Reaction Engineering

Background:

• Micromixing is crucial for controlling reaction outcomes in many chemical processes.
• Traditional reactors face limitations in achieving extremely short micromixing times.
• Rotor-stator spinning disc reactors offer potential for enhanced mixing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine micromixing times in a rotor-stator spinning disc reactor.
• To investigate the effect of rotational speed on mixing efficiency.
• To compare performance with theoretical models and conventional equipment.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Villermaux-Dushman reaction scheme to assess mixing.
• Measured segregation indices at various disc rotational speeds.
• Calculated micromixing times using the engulfment model with self-engulfment.
• Correlated results with energy dissipation rates.

Main Results:

• Segregation index decreased as disc speed increased.
• Micromixing times ranged from 1.13 × 10^-4 to 8.76 × 10^-3 seconds.
• Results align with the theoretical dependence on energy dissipation rate (ε^-0.5).

Conclusions:

• Rotor-stator spinning disc reactors achieve shorter micromixing times than traditional equipment.
• High energy dissipation rates in these reactors enable further reduction in mixing times.
• This technology facilitates process intensification for fast reactions.