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Chemical Engineering. Solutions to the Problems in Chemical Engineering

Richardson J.F., Backhurst J.R., Harker J.H.

Chapter 7

Liquid Mixing - all with Video Answers

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Chapter Questions

Problem 1

A reaction is to be carried out in an agitated vessel. Pilot plant experiments were performed under fully turbulent conditions in a tank 0.6 m in diameter, fitted with baffles and provided with a flat-bladed turbine. It was found that satisfactory mixing was obtained at a rotor speed of 4 Hz , when the power consumption was 0.15 kW and the Reynolds number was 160,000 . What should be the rotor speed in order to retain the same mixing performance if the linear scale of the equipment is increased 6 times? What will be the power consumption and the Reynolds number?

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Problem 2

A three-bladed propeller is used to mix a fluid in the laminar region. The stirrer is 0.3 m in diameter and is rotated at 1.5 Hz . Due to corrosion, the propeller has to be replaced by a flat two-bladed paddle, 0.75 m in diameter. If the same motor is used, at what speed should the paddle rotate?

Chai Santi
Chai Santi
Numerade Educator

Problem 3

Compare the capital and operating costs of a three-bladed propeller with those of a constant speed six-bladed turbine, both constructed from mild steel. The impeller diameters are 0.3 and 0.45 m respectively and both stirrers are driven by a 1 kW motor. What is the recommended speed of rotation in each case? Assume operation for $8000 \mathrm{~h} /$ /year, power costs of $£ 0.01 / \mathrm{kWh}$ and interest and depreciation at $15 \% /$ year.

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Problem 4

In a leaching operation, the rate at which solute goes into solution is given by:

$$
\mathrm{d} M / \mathrm{d} t=k\left(c_s-c\right) \mathrm{kg} / \mathrm{s}
$$

where $M \mathrm{~kg}$ is the amount of solute dissolving in $t \mathrm{~s}, k\left(\mathrm{~m}^3 / \mathrm{s}\right)$ is a constant and $c_s$ and $c$ are the saturation and bulk concentrations of the solute respectively in $\mathrm{kg} / \mathrm{m}^3$. In a pilot test on a vessel $1 \mathrm{~m}^3$ in volume, $75 \%$ saturation was attained in 10 s . If 300 kg of a solid containing $28 \%$ by mass of a water soluble solid is agitated with $100 \mathrm{~m}^3$ of water, how long will it take for all the solute to dissolve assuming conditions are the same as in the pilot unit? Water is saturated with the solute at a concentration of $2.5 \mathrm{~kg} / \mathrm{m}^3$.

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Problem 5

containing $28 \%$ by mass of a water soluble solid is agitated with $100 \mathrm{~m}^3$ of water, how long will it take for all the solute to dissolve assuming conditions are the same as in the pilot unit? Water is saturated with the solute at a concentration of $2.5 \mathrm{~kg} / \mathrm{m}^3$.

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Problem 6

A reaction is to be carried out in an agitated vessel. Pilot-plant experiments were performed under fully turbulent conditions in a tank 0.6 m in diameter, fitted with baffles and provided with a flat-bladed turbine. It was found that satisfactory mixing was obtained at a rotor speed of 4 Hz , when the power consumption was 0.15 kW and the Reynolds number 160,000 . What should be the rotor speed in order to retain the same mixing performance if the linear scale of the equipment is increased 6 times? What will be the power consumption and the Reynolds number?

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Problem 7

Tests on a small scale tank 0.3 m diameter (Rushton impeller, diameter 0.1 m ) have shown that a blending process between two miscible liquids (aqueous solutions, properties approximately the same as water, i.e. viscosity $1 \mathrm{mN} \mathrm{s} / \mathrm{m}^2$, density $1000 \mathrm{~kg} / \mathrm{m}^3$ ) is satisfactorily completed after 1 minute using an impeller speed of $250 \mathrm{rev} / \mathrm{min}$. It is decided to scale up the process to a tank of 2.5 m diameter using the criterion of constant tip-speed.
(a) What speed should be chosen for the larger impeller?
(b) What power will be required?
(c) What will be the blend time in the large tank?

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Problem 8

An agitated tank with a standard Rushton impeller is required to disperse gas in a solution of properties similar to those of water. The tank will be 3 m diameter ( 1 m diameter impeller). A power level of $0.8 \mathrm{~kW} / \mathrm{m}^3$ is chosen. Assuming fully turbulent conditions and that the presence of the gas does not significantly affect the relation between the Power and Reynolds numbers:
(a) What power will be required by the impeller?
(b) At what speed should the impeller be driven?
(c) If a small pilot scale tank 0.3 m diameter is to be constructed to test the process, at what speed should the impeller be driven?

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