Fluid-fluid interactions and hydrodynamics in agitated dispersions: A simulation model

A model which accounts for complex fluid-fluid interactions and hydrodynamic effects in a fully baffled turbulently agitated dispersed phase system for batch, semi-batch, or continuous operation is developed. Both micromixing and macromixing effects on particle size distributions are taken into account. Coalescence and breakage functions are developed and examples are given of the normalized number and/or volume size distributions for various vessel regions. Calculated distributions are compared with experimental data to estimate values of coalescence and breakage parameters. Effects of coalescence, breakage, and system parameters on transient and steady state distributions are determined.