The use of positron emission particle tracking in the study of multiphase stirred tank reactor hydrodynamics

This paper describes the use of positron emission particle Tracking (PEPT) in the analysis of local particle and fluid velocities in solid-liquid stirred tank reactors agitated with a Rushton turbine and an upward-pumping pitched blade turbine. PEPT captures the full three-dimensional characteristics of hydrodynamics and mixing in stirred vessels, allowing the analysis of the two-phase flow fields. Furthermore, by comparing the liquid and particle velocities, the spatial and temporal variation of the relative particle-liquid velocity can be estimated. Such information reveals considerable heterogeneity in the vessel and facilitates the evaluation of impeller design, particularly with the aim of minimizing mass transfer limitations.