Residence Time Characteristics of the Novel Archimedean Screw Crystallizer/Reactor

Abstract

This work presents a novel design of a continuous crystallizer, the Archimedean screw crystallizer reactor (ASKR) with integrated Archimedean screw as conveying element. By the screw, the axial motion of the product solution is initiated, and an undesired axial mixing is restricted. This structure results in a narrow residence time distribution and, thus, promotes a defined product quality. In order to quantitatively assess the flow characteristics of the crystallizer and to highlight the influence of variable operating parameters such as rotational speed and volumetric flow, investigations of the residence time behavior with variation of the operating parameters are reported.