Simulation of CaCO3 Crystal Growth in Multiphase Reaction

Abstract

The aim of this review is to present the different approaches to the proper and accurate modeling and simulation of CaCO3 formation and growth in multiphase reaction. This very complex problem is presented for most popular, different types of reactors, i.e. batch, tube and thin film reactor as well as bubble column. The used method allowed for reconstructing the solids fraction profiles on the fine CFD grid, while preserving the full information on particle size distribution on the coarser compartment scale. The technique is well established and has moderate computational costs. Results of calcn. agreed very well with the expt. and the model described properly the change of pptn. rate from bulk liq. to the film region and showed that the higher supersatn. leads to smaller mean crystal size, since the nucleation rate is more sensitive to the level of supersatn. than the growth rate. A wide review of different methods and approaches to the accurate description of crystn. processes as well as main CFD problems are presented. It can serve as a basic material for formulation and implementation of new, accurate models describing not only multiphase crystn. processes but also any processes taking place in different chem. reactors. Combined population balance and kinetic models, computational fluid dynamics and mixing theory enable well prediction and scale-up of crystn. and pptn. systems but it is necessary to remember that each process (performed in the well defined reactor) needs always its own modeling. [on SciFinder(R)]