Optimum design of stator-rotor assembly in gas inducing type mechanically agitated reactors

The stator-rotor combination was optimised in gas inducing type of agitated contactors. The rate of gas induction and the fractional gas hold-up were measured in a 1 m i.d. vessel. Tap water was used as the liquid phase, and air was used as the gas phase. The impeller speed was varied between 1.5 to 6.5 rev/s. Pitched bladed downflow turbine having six blades was used as i mpeller. The effect of blade angle and blade width was investigated. The st ator was optimized in terms of diffuser width, number of stator vanes and t he stator-impeller gap. The role of stator air-ring and stator vanes was al so investigated. The effect of errors in the fabrication on the performance of the contactor was studied. Ways have been proposed to overcome the dete rioration of performance.