Configuration of static mixers – Gas and slurry mixing issue
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Dear sea friends: I am currently dealing with a gas purification system. The main process involves passing sulfur-containing gases through desulfurization slurry in a 20-meter-high reactor, where the acidic components in the gas are removed. After that, the gas-liquid mixture is separated using a gas-liquid separator, and the purified gas is released outside the system. The slurry that has absorbed the acidic components is then sent to a regeneration unit for reprocessing. For the specific process, please refer to Figure 1. To maximize the reaction rate and ensure thorough contact between the gas phase and the slurry, it is now planned to install a static mixer after the gas-liquid junction pipe to increase turbulence. The properties of the slurry are generally as follows: solid content (amorphous hydroxide oxide) 5–20 wt%, water 95–80 wt%, solid particle size 5–20 μm, solid hardness HV500, slurry viscosity 4.5–80 cP, and density 1150–1200 kg/m3. I would like to ask everyone, what type of mixer is generally suitable for this kind of operating condition? Are there any application records for similar operating conditions?
Thank you. HG20570, along with the selection guidelines in the petrochemical design manuals, provides similar information. The SK type has a structure similar to that of corrugated perturbations, and it is suitable for use with high-viscosity media. My medium is actually quite similar to water; it’s necessary to disperse the gas phase, and the SK type may not be as effective at achieving this dispersion
Would it be better to use an INJECTOR? To spray gas into the liquid... I don’t have any experience with this, but I just think that when two different phases need to be mixed, using a MIXER doesn’t seem like the best option
Thank you. Yes, I’m also considering whether using a injector would be feasible. The gas is already under pressure, and the liquid phase comes from the pump outlet as well. I have seen before systems where the liquid phase is used as a power source to inject and mix with atmospheric pressure gases, but there are no successful applications available to show what the effect of mixing gases under pressure is like...
Based on what you’ve described, I believe the reactor itself should act as a mixer for the gas and liquid phases, continuously updating the interface to facilitate gas-liquid mass transfer and thus achieve desulfurization. The reactor can be dynamic (such as a stirred bed) or a static mixer. Rather than the issue of adding a static mixer in front of the reactor. Of course, there should be a distributor for the gas to enter the reactor; it can be a perforated plate or a perforated coil. With this configuration, adjusting the reactor height (by connecting them in series if necessary) should not be a problem, and it can fully address the desulfurization issue.
Thank you, you’ve given me a great idea! Yes, the reactor itself is a mixer of gas and liquid phases. To increase the contact area and improve the mass transfer rate, regular packing was used in the experiments conducted in the process development laboratory. After operating for a period of time, it was found that the packing in the reactor became clogged due to the precipitation of paste-like sulfur during the reaction process, which accumulated on the surface of the packing; therefore, packing towers were not used in the scale-up tests ； The plate towers and distributors you mentioned are also under investigation
It is itself a desulfurization process, and the formation and precipitation of sulfur are inevitable. A filler with better resistance to clogging can be used, and after a period of time, it can be cleaned and recovered through washing.
For Venturi jet mixing, you can consult the manufacturer for an estimate. You also need to know the traffic
Do you have any good filler recommendations? Should it be used in a neat arrangement or in a loose pile? What model?