Nashrieh Shimi va Mohandesi Shimi Iran

Nashrieh Shimi va Mohandesi Shimi Iran

CFD Simulation of the Solvent Extraction Settler and Investigation on the Picket Fences and the Flow Distribution Blades

Document Type : Research Article

Authors
Taleb Zarei 1
Mohammad Sadegh Asadi 2
1 Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Hormozgan, Bandar Abbas, I.R. IRAN
2 Iranian Babak Copper Company, Shahrbabak, I.R. IRAN
Abstract
In this study, a three-dimensional simulation model has been carried out to investigate the flow pattern and the effect of picket fences on the performance of the settler in the solvent extraction plant in the Miduk copper complex. The effect of picket fences on the settler and their arrangements, flow distribution blades, separation of phases and the droplet size distribution has been investigated with CFD simulations.  The simulation has been carried out with an Eulerian-Eulerian method in conjunction with the incorporated MUSIG model which is based on a population balance equation and takes into account the break up and coalescence models of droplets.  The simulation of settler shows that feed spouting velocity was propagated for long distances in the settler and dispersion band continues to the end of the settler. By setting one picket fence in the settler, velocity vectors transmitted and the width of dispersion band decreased which as a result increasing droplet size. By increasing number of picket fences dispersion band almost disappears. The inspection of distribution of droplet size at different points in the settler showed that the presence of picket fences increases the size of droplets. Finally, the effect of closed to opened (C/O) area ratio of the picket fences on the performance of the settler was studied. The results showed that by increasing the C/O ratio, some circulation appears in the flow which causes a negative effect on phase separation.
Keywords
Settler
copper solvent extraction
picket fences
flow distribution blades
computational fluid dynamics

Subjects

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