Mixing Characteristics in a
Spinning Disc Reactor
The Spinning Disc Reactor
(SDR) is a novel reactor technology which
exploits the benefits of applying high
centrifugal forces to a liquid flowing on a
rotating disc surface. The liquid is spread out
on the rotating surface in the form of very thin
films (50-500 mm) having a large number of
surface ripples. A number of reactions have been
tested in the SDR including polymerisations,
organic catalytic reactions, neutralisations and
crystallisations. Reaction rates, yields and
selectivity were greatly enhanced in the SDR in
comparison with stirred tank vessels. High
quality products (high molecular weights and
narrow molecular weight distributions for
polymerisations and very small particles (0.5-5
um) and narrow particle size distribution for
crystallisations) were obtained from the SDR.
It has long been recognised
that the intense mixing characteristics of the
thin films in the SDR, in particular intense
micromixing (i.e. mixing at the molecular
scale), plays an important in the improvements
observed for the reactions carried out in the
novel reactor. However, to date, there has been
no systematic study undertaken to characterise
the mixing in the thin films.
In this project, we are
investigating the fundamental science underlying
the mixing characteristics taking place within
the thin films flowing on the spinning disc. A
competitive reaction scheme is being used to
quantify the micromixing under various operating
conditions.
For more information see:
Process Intensification: A Study of Micromixing
Characteristics in the Spinning Disc Reactor.
Or, contact Dr Kamelia
Boodhoo or
Prof Ian Metcalfe.
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