The Effect of Scalling-Up and Hydrodynamic Properties of Stirring System on the Kinetics of Vegetable Oil Hydrogenation

Abstract

The stirring system of classical turbine agitator beside the anchor agitation system was studied from the point of view of the effect of their hydrodynamic properties on the kinetics of sunflower oil hydrogenation, It was found out that the anchor agitator makes up a higher gas hold-up than the turbine one and its efficiency from the view of reaction kinetics is higher. On changing the geometrical parameters of anchor agitator - by reducing its blade height - its hydrodynamic properties change considerably, and its efficiency decreases. The scaling-up of the stirring system did not manifest itself in the reaction rate in case of the turbine agitator. With the anchor agitator, the scaling-up resulted in the confirmation of its specific effect on the reaction kinetics, viz., on exceeding the limiting value of stirring frequency, the dramatic loss in efficiency took place.