*Chemical Engineering Department, Kuwait University, Kuwait
**Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Technological Studies, PAAET, Kuwait
***Mechanical Engineering Department, Kuwait University, Kuwait
****Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, Poland
*Corresponding author, E-mail address: khaled.mahdi@ku.edu.kw
ABSTRACT
In search for the optimal geometrical dimensions of a conical-cylindrical crystallization unit, the influences of the location and the opening angle of draft tube in the unit on: (i) unit power input distribution, (ii) average mixing power, and (iii) pumping capacity, are examined by means of computational fluid dynamics simulations. The objective is to maximize the hydraulic efficiency in the crystallization unit. Results indicate an optimal draft tube position between 0.35 and 0.5 hr/dr and an optimal draft tube opening angle in the range of 8o and 13o, in which hydraulic efficiency is maximized. No elimination of circulation loops is observed within the aforementioned optimal configuration.
Keywords: Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Crystallization, Multiphase, Mixing.