MIXING TIMES OF LIQUIDS IN GAS-LIQUID CON TACTORS WITH MECHANICAL AGITATION

The mixing times of liquids in gas-liquid contactors were examined und er aeration and/or mechanical agitation. The mixing times were inverse ly proportional to the cubic root of power input per unit liquid volum e in both limit cases of mechanical agitation and aeration. Mechanical agitation was more effective than aeration for liquid mixing under th e same total power input. The mixing times under mechanical agitation with aeration decreased with increasing ratio of power input by mechan ical agitation compared to aeration under the same total pouter input. A semiempirical correlation for mixing times was proposed considering both the contributions of mechanical agitation and aeration. The corr elation predicted the mixing times within +/-25% over a wide range of operating conditions.