Computational fluid dynamics of two-opposed-jet microextractor

Abstract

Liquid-liquid extraction is an important unit operation in chemical engineering. The conventional designs such as mixer settler have lower-energy efficiency as the input energy is dissipated everywhere. Experimental studies have proved that the novel designs such as two-opposed-jet contacting device (TOJCD) microextractor allow energy to be dissipated close to the interface, and major part of energy is used for drop breakup and enhancement of surface renewal rates. It is very difficult to estimate the local variation of energy dissipation (ε) using experiments. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has been used to obtain ε at different rotating speed of the top disc and nozzle velocity. In this work, performance analysis of TOJCD microextractor has been carried out using Reynolds stress model. The overall ε value was found in the range of 50 to 400W/kg and shear rate in the range of 1000001/s. A semiempirical correlation for kLa is proposed, and parity plot with experimental data has been plotted. © 2012 Pritam V. Hule et al.