Correlating Gas-Liquid Mass Transfer in a Stirred-Tank Reactor

A correlation is developed for the volumetric gas–liquid mass transfer coefficient (kLa) in stirred-tank reactors (STRs) using results from the literature. The volumetric mass transfer coefficient is correlated on the basis of the relative dispersion parameter (N/NCD) for similar impeller hydrodynamics and operating regimes. Using a bench-top STR of diameter T= 0.211 m, gas–liquid mass transfer data are also obtained and found to follow the proposed correlation when the appropriate hydrodynamic conditions are satisfied. A STR scale-up technique from bench-scale (T= 0.211m and D/T= 0.35) to industrial-scale (up to T= 2.7 m) is proposed using a normalized hydrodynamic flow regime map and shown to be useful in understanding the range of operational conditions for the successful scale-up of STRs.

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