Viscous Mixing Process Intensification: Innovations and Trends
Special Symposium - EPIC-1: European Process Intensification Conference - 1
EPIC-1: Intensified Hydrodynamics & Structured Environments (IHSE-2)
Keywords: Mixing, Rheology, Viscous, Laminar
Process intensification is a new paradigm that describes the use of more cost-effective and leaner industrial operations characterized by reliable, simpler, safer and faster processes, resulting in lower energy consumption, reduced emissions, and higher quality end-products. Mixing is a ubiquitous operation in chemical engineering and it is considered as a major candidate for process intensification. Mixing is a core technology in many production processes. In the case of complex formulated products involving non-Newtonian rheology, mixing problems generate significant mixing inefficiencies that cost every year, billions of dollars of losses in out-of-spec products, undesirable by-products, and poorly selective chemical reactions to name a few.
The general objective of this presentation is to present new innovations and trends in intensified mixing processes involving rheologically complex media. Three technologies will be presented, namely two Multi-Shaft Mixer technologies, i.e. the dual shaft concentric coaxial mixer and the dual shaft eccentric mixer and one example of a Single-shaft Multifunctional Impeller Mixer, namely the Sumitomo Maxblend. A review of the performance of these mixers will be given in the context of the processing of viscous non-Newtonian media as well as information regarding their design. Examples of their utilization in industry where they have replaced more traditional mixer systems will also be presented along with the benefits that have been obtained. New mixing processing trends will also be discussed in the light of further progress in process intensification involving complex rheology.
Presented Wednesday 19, 15:40 to 16:00, in session EPIC-1: Intensified Hydrodynamics & Structured Environments (IHSE-2).
