Mixing Efficiency Determinations
for Continuous Flow Systems’
A . CHOLETTE’“ and LEONCE CLOUTIER’
Models a r e defined for various mixing conditions,
in continuous flow systems. Differential equations a r e
derived which take into acrount an effective volume
of mixing, possillle short-circuiting, holcl-up time of
the system, partial displacement or piston flow.
The values of the different factors contained in
the integrated equations can be determined experi-
mentally by the particular response of a given system
to a sudden change in composition of the feed.
A correlation of the effective volume of mixing
and the agitator r.p.m. is presented.
A design procedure is suggested for tank flow
reactors when partial mixing occurs.
M IXING, which has been referred to as one of the most
intractable of all the unit operations of chemical
engineering ( I ) , has been the object o f niorc and niorc
fundamental w o r k over the past years, partly perhaps on
account of the recognized complexity of the subject (2).
Many of the investigations in this field have dealt with
batch systems and with the power requirements for
mixing ( 3 9 4 . 5 - 6 ) . T h e ever increasing conversion to con-
tinuous-flow processes in the industry has introduced
various other aspects to the problcm for others to esplore.
Among the numerous avenues of approach followed, a
few can be found dealing with the efficiency of niixing.
In spite of all the u o r k done in this particular field, much
more remains to lie accomplished as indicated in reccnt
chemical engineering works ( 1 , 29 7 ) .
T h e present investigation was undertaken with the
purpose of providing a theoretical basis for evaluating
the performance of misers. T h e method dcveloped for
measuring mixing efficiencies applies to continuous-flow
systems but it is intended to extend it to batch systems as
well. After presenting a quantitative treatment of various
factors likely to be encountered in actual mixing, an
experimental study relating to part of the theoretical
investigation is exposed.
Previous work
Machlullin and ’IVeber (8) were among the first to
present an analytical study of the behavior of perfectly
mixed systems, f o r continuous-flow niising vesscls in series.
T h e y , and others ( 0 . l o ) , used the tcrni “short-circuit” or
“mathematical by-passing” to dcnotc conditions involving
probability considerations, applicable to well agitated
tanks in which the contents are substantially honio-
.................................................................................
1Manuscript received J u n u u q 2, 1959.
2Dspomnent of Chemical Engineering h v a l University Quebec, Quc.
Cmt&ution from the Departmsnt 01
Chemkd Engftddng. L a d Uni-
@e Canadian Journal of chemical Endneering, June, 1959
Les auteurs dCfinissent des modkles pour diffb-
rentes conditions d’agitation clans les systgmes ii
bcoulement continn. 11s dkduisent des Cquations diffC-
rentielles qui tiennent compte tl‘un volume effirace
cl’agitation, cle court-circuits ponsihles, du temps de
rCtention du systkme et de I’kcoulement par dbplace-
ment ou “frontal”.
Leu valeurs des diffCrents fiicteurs contenus clans
les Cquations intbgrkes peuvent &treolltenues ii partir
de la rCponse pariiculi&re cl‘un systcme donnb ii un
cliangement sullit dc la composition cle l’alimentation.
Les auteurs prksentent une corrklation entre le
volume efficace d’sgitation et la vitesse de l’agitateur.
11s proposent une mCthocle de calcul pour les
rCarteurs en rCgime continu lorsque l’agitaiion est
partielle.
geneous, whcrcby sonic of the molcculcs in t h e feed
streaiii appear aliiiost iiiiiiiediately in the effluent as a
result o f good agitation. T h i s may be confusing bccause,
‘is pointed out t)y Colburn (‘I), the tern1 “short-circuit”
should refer rather t o the flow pattern in a tank where
some of thc fced is channeled to the outlet, reaching the
latter \vithout being mi\ed. I t latcr occurred to Mac-
\lulliri ( 1 2 ) that short-cut o r channelized flow between
inlet and outlct would indeed alter conditions in a tank.
He suggestcd, rathcr qualitativel!?, that it could perhaps
be possible to evaluate the eficicncy of a stirrer b y
stud!.ing the conversion rate of a reacting system whose
kinetics are known,
Statistical methods have been suggestcd to determine
blending efficiencies (*I) f o r batches of varying concen-
t:-ation fed into a stirred tank.
Danckacrts ( 1 I ) h a s introduccd the concepts of ‘hold-
back’ a n d ‘segregation’ in order to conipare actual to ideal
iilhing conditions in continuous flow systems. T h e con-
cept of hold-back relates t o the residence time of various
elcmcnts in the system; the author cautions: “the whole
F-diagram (and possibly other inforination) is needed if
the actual performance of the reactor is to be calculated”.
T h e notion of real ‘short-circuit’ is mentioncd b u t none
o f the I; diagrams shoivn take it into account. As to the
concept of ‘xgrcgation’, also obtained from F-diagrams,
it is introduced to give an indication of t h e efficiency
of mixing in a system. LVhile it points t o the degree of
departure o f a system from perfcct mixing, it does not
indicate fully how the syhteni actually behaves. T h e H
and S values thus defined involve rather tedious deter-
minations besides being questionable as to their real
advantage.
105
 C/C. 0
_-9.c, 0
0 05 10 15
Figure 1-Perfect mixing : the feed is dispcrsed instan-
taneously. The composition of the outlet stream is the
same as that of the tank contents.
Factors involved
W i t h t w o niiscible liquids, in a batch process, a
perfectly homogeneous mixture can be obtained when
agitation, with the help of diffusion if necessary, is main-
tained for a long enough period of time. In a continuous
flow systcni, however, it may be that perfect mixing can
never l)e attained. T h e r e can be stagnant regions in the
reservoir, part of the feed may go directly t o the outlet,
piston o r plug flow may take place. In order to study the
behavior of such a systcm and the efficiency of mixing,
one can consider the tank or reservoir to act as a damper
to variations in feed composition. T h e mathematical
treatment of this problem thus becomes similar to one
performed on a capacity in a servo-mechanism circuit,
where a transfer function exists, from which can be
obtained transient o r permanent responses.
T h r e e factors that may be met in actual mixing con-
ditions are taken into account.
( a ) Effective volume
For a given agitator, part only of the total tank
contents may be well mixed the rest being taken u p by
stationary or stagnant zones. T h a t part of the total
volume where mixing is complete will be referred t o
as the ‘Effective Volume of Mixing’: it is the part which
acts as a damper to any variation in feed composition
and which is considered in determining the transfer
function. A sorneivhat similar concept has been used b y
Gerniain (1:) for evaluating contact time in a tubular
reactor: the author replaces the reactor volume, in which
the temperature is variable and passes through a maximum
of T,,, by a smaller ‘equivalent volume’ in which the
teniperature is uniform, at T,”.
Macllonald and Piret ( l o ) have observed qualitatively
that dead volume can retain solution f o r indeterminate
periods of time within a vessel. Danckwerts (14) also
considered dead space in a mixing tank when introducing
the concept of hold-back.
( b ) Short-circuit
Depending on the relative position of t h e inlet with
rcspect to the outlet, part of the feed may go directly
to the latter without being mixed, causing channeling or
a short-circuit. O n l y the remaining portion is thus avail-
able for mixing. T h i s situation is unlike that arising from
the definitions of short-circuit introduced b y some
authors as mentioned already.
Macl)onald and Pirct (In) report that they have ob-
served channeling, in the course of experimental deter-
minations, especially at lour levels of agitation.
( c ) Piston flow
In many systems, depending on conditions, part of t h e
106
0 05 I 0 I5 20 i
Y
Figure 2-Partial mixing and short-circuit: a fraction of
the total volume is perfectly mixed; part of the feed goes
directly to the outlet.
feed, or all of it, may give rise to piston or plug flow.
lnasniuch as the liquids in the stagnant and well agitated
zones are not separated by a membrane, fluctuations or
circulation may arise. Liquid in the stagnant zone may
be replaced b y some from the well agitated zone or f r o m
part of the feed. Such a circulation may go on steadily
in the form of piston or plug flow.
Nagata and others ( 1 7 - 1 8 , 1 9 ) have studied mixing in a
tubular reactor where piston flow exists, but in t h e
absence of any short-circuit.
R4ixing prot)lems met in actual practice may involve
different combinations of these three factors: effective
volume, short-circuit, piston flow. Some particular com-
binations, more likely perhaps to be encountered than
others, will now be considered.
Theory
As for a servomechanisni element, the behavior of a
mixing s)rstcni can be studied b y means of the answer to
either a step, a linear or a harmonic demand. O n e only
of the answers being necessary to determine a transfer
function, thc first or step demand has been chosen o n
technical grounds suggested b v the experimental deter-
minations to be niade. For the different systems con-
sidered, the following are the answers to a negative step
deniand.
I . Perfect mixing
T h e contents of a reservoir, Figure 1, occupy a volume
of V cubic feet; the initial concentration is c,, Ibs./ft.s.
q cu. ft./hr., of composition cb., are assumed to be fed
continuously into the reservoir. T h e feed composition cB.
is changed suddenly at time t = 0 from c, to 0, creating
a step demand. A t any given time t, mixing being perfect,
the tank contents are uniform throughout and of com-
position c, which is also that of the effluent.
A material balance f o r a time element d t gives:
q c d t = qcdt + d(C‘c). . . . , ., , ..,...(I)
T h e feed composition, cF, being then zero, and t h e
volume of the liquid in the reservoir being constant,
Equation (1) can be written:
U p o n integration one obtains:
- _9
V t
c/c. = e
When plotted o n semi-log paper, as in Figure 1, this
equation gives a straight line.
The Canadian h u n a l ot Chemical Endneerinx, Juns. 19sr
 zone: this liquid, in turn, displaces the other already
present, by the niechanism of piston or plug flow.
( b ) T h e feed, introduced into the stagnant zone, dis-
places an equal volume from the latter into the zone of
perfect mixing which, in turn, supplies an equivalent
volume of liquid to the outlet.
In either case, the composition of the liquid a t the

t_!
................

-.iir----
outlet would remain constant a t c, for a period of time
t = (1 - ni) V/q, which represents the time required

07

04
~ \
1 to displace all the material out of the stagnant zone at the
prevalent rate of flow. T h e variation of the outlet com-
position with time, in either case, is obtained in the
following way:
q c d t = qc'dt + mVdc'
dc' q
dt
- + -rnV c'=O

I I
.....................

10 15 20 _.25
-
"1

V
(1 - m ) V
Figure 3-Partial mixing and piston flow: a fraction of Rut, c = C' a t time: t -
(I
the total volume is perfectly agitated; piston flow takes
place before or after mixing, as shown.

2. Partial mixing and short-circuit .). c/co = c

,~
(1 - 111)
3
As shown in Figure 2, only a fraction m of the total
volume is assumed to be well agitated. A fraction n of the In c/c, = -
m
[$ - (1 - Ill)
1
feed enters the zone of perfect mixing while the other frac-
tion ( 1 - n) is assumed t o he short-circuited directly to the Plotting this equation on semi-log paper gives a
outlet. T h e concentration, a t time t, in the zone of perfect straight line o f slope - 1/m,as shown in Figure 3. T h e
mixing is assumed to be c'. T h e material issuing from value of ni can also be obtained from the intercept at
this zone is mixed with that portion of the feed which c/c, = 1.
short-circuits the system, the mixture of the two giving
4. Partial mixing with piston flow and short-circuit
a liquid of composition c a t the outlet. One thus obtains:
Among the several possible combinations, the follow-
Ilqcb-dt = nqc'dt + IllVdC' ing three have been considered.
or, ( A ) In addition to having a fraction m of the total
dc' nq c' = 0 volume well mixed and a fraction n of the feed going
+ to the zone of perfect mixing, a fraction p of the feed
dt InV
gets into the stagnant zone from where it displaces an
- -nq
t equivalent volume by piston flow into the zone of perfect
mV
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2) mixing, as shown in Figure 4. T h e outgoing liquid, of
.). c'/c, = e
composition c at time t, is made up in part of liquid of
But, composition c' from the zone of perfect mixing, and of
(1 - 11)qcwdt + Ilqc'dt = qcdt the fraction (1 - n - p) of the feed which short-circuits
and, the tank. T w o periods have to be considered, before and
cl. = 0 .). c = IlC' after time t = ( 1 - m ) V/p q, during which all the
liquid originally in the stagnant zone is displaced.
Equation ( 2 ) then becomes:
a) 0 < t < (1 - in) V/pq
-"qt
mV
c/c, = ne
Taking natural logarithms: CIC.

l'cl
I n c/c, = I n n - - t
mV
Thus, plotting c/c, vs qt/V on semi-log paper as in
Figure 2, the value of n can be read directly on the con-
centration ratio axis, a t t = 0. T h e straight line has a
dope of - n/m, from which can be derived the value of
rn, once n has been determined.
3. Partial mixing and piston flow
W i t h a fraction m of the total volume well agitated,
the feed can be considered to give piston flow in two ^,l . . . . . . .* . .
different ways,' as shown in Figure 3:
(a) T h e feed is introduced into the zone of perfect
mixing, displacing an equal volume into the stagnant

T b Canadian Journal of Chemical Enrineerin., June, 1959 '6 _I 107

 , .
Figure 6-Partial niixing with piston flow and &opt.
Figurc! 5-Partial mixing with piston f l o w and ahort-rirruit : rirruit: liquid from thr zonr of perfect mixing d i s p h + ,
part of t h e frrtl c l i ~ p l a r rliquid
~ from thr stagnaut rrgion, and is replarrd by, an equal volume from the s t a p u h t
around tlir zone o f prrfcrt mixing. region.
..
I + I

I h r i n g this period, niatcrial o f composition c,.. = c,, Plotting c / c , vs q t / V on scmi-log paper, for the two
cntcrs the m i i c of pcrfcct mixing froni thc stagnant zone. rcgions of casc A, givcs curvcs such as shown in Figure 4.
T h e folio\\ ing rcl:itions are o1)taincd: ( R ) P a r t of the fced goes to the stagnant zone and
+
ll‘{(.l.(ll p < l ( ~ , , l i l= (1) + 11) q(.’tlt + lIl\’(iC’ displaces an equal volunie 1)). piston flow around the zonc
(It.’ (1) + II) ‘1 c., = 1”1”<>
o f pcrfcct niidng, directly to the outlct, as indicated in
Figure 5. T h c outgoing material is madc up in part by
(It Ill\. Ill\‘
this strcani, in part by liquid forced o u t of the zone of
+

pcrfect iniuing and also by thc part of the feed going in

short-circuit.
Again, two periods have to be considered, before anti
Since

(1 - ni)V
4- , a) 0 <t <
- (1,
~~
11) II I’q
P GV
c’/c,, = .~
1’ + I1 + 1’ 1; II

c = (1) + II) c‘

-~
(11 i n) ti
Ill\’

.). c/(I, = I) + lie

I,) t > (1 - Ill) \‘”)(I

But,
All thc inatcrial originally in the stagnant zonc ..as c = nc’ + pc,
now left and liquid of composition c,,. = 0 cnters the
- nrl
zone o f pcrfcct mixing from the stagnant onc. niv
.). c/c, = p + ne
(1 - Ill) v
I,) t > -- --
Pq

c‘/c, = e
Now,
c = IlC’

--In\’
nq

.). c/r, = tie

Curves of c / c , vs q t / V 011 semi-log paper, for these

cascs, are as shoum in Fig. 5 .
( C ) A certain amount o f liquid, corresponding to a
fraction s of that part of thc fced which enters the zone
of perfect inking, passcs o u t of the latter into the stagnant
zone. As a result an equal volume is displaced, in piston
flow, from the stagnant section into the zone of perfect
mixing, as shown in Figure 6.

108 The Carcadian lournel of Chemical En&teerinH. J u w . 1959

 rzhe two periods to be considered are before and
(1 m)V -
r,rter time: t =
“=I
(1 - Ill) \’
a) 0 <t < ~~

nsq

Throughout this time period, liquid of composition

c, is displaced into the zone of perfect mixing from the
stagnant one.
nqcFdt + nsqc,tlt = nsqc’dt + nqc’dt + mVdc’
dc’
(1 +
nq nsqco
-+ - = 5)c’
dt mV mG

Figure 7-Partial mixing and short-circuit i n a chemical

reactor.

&& c‘ = c, at time t = O
1 hTow, taking account of the reactant in the feed and
K2 = ~

exit streams as well as that converted in the reactor, one

s + l
can write ( 2 0 ) :
Also, c = nc’
iiqc-1. - nqc’ = r ’ n i \ J . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(S)

\\here: r’ = reaction rate, lbs./(ft.a) (hr.), in the zone of

perfect mixing.
b) t > ~-
(1 - I l l )
~~~
v m V = actual volume of liquid undergoing reaction.
nsq Equation ( 5 ) can be rewritten.
Liquid entering the zone of perfect niising now has r’mV
c’ = cI; -
the composition c’ of the liquid displaced from the zone nq
of perfect mixing into the stagnant one, a t time:
Introducing this value of c’ in Equation (4) gives:
(1 - m ) V
t - or, at t - tl.
nscl

(s + I) (1 - Ill)
.-
1 1 - 111
srn

( ‘ L +

1 - 111
c/c, = _ _nsz
l l [ ( s IMll
___ + _- 1 ~__ +
(1 s)2+ 1 + s
f
I
~--
+s 111
~ ~~

Ill\;

Curves for the last two cases are shown in Figure 6.

If mixing was perfect in the entire reactor, the con-
centration of the effluent would be cJI and related to cg
Design procedure for tank flow reactors when
partial mixing occurs
by the following:
s pointed out by Smith (20), design procedures for rV
cI. - CM = - .................... .(7)
flow reactors are still unavailable when partial mixing ‘1
. T h e problem may now be solved, in general, by where: r = theoretical reaction rate, Ibs./(ft.*) (hr.),
cing the concepts already mentioned. based on concentration ell.
For the particular case of partial mixing and short- Combining Equations ( 6 ) and ( 7 ) gives:
circuit, as shown in Figure 7, under steady-state flow
conditions, the incoming solution has a composition c,?, - = CF - in (CIS - c % l l~-r’
that in the zone of perfect mixing is c’, and the outgoing . .
liquid has a composition c.
A material balance at the outlet gives:
(1 - n) qcP + nqc’ qc
-
(1 - n)cp + nc‘ ................(4)
-
or, c
, --
The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, JUIM,1959 109
be obtained depending o n the order of the reaction taking which can be re-written:
place.
Of all the possible solutions, only the following two
are considered here:
a ) Zero-order reaction with partid mixing and short- T h e value o f cF can be obtained easily from the above
c ir cir it.
For such a reaction, the rate is independent of eon- expression, or from Figure 8, for given values of c! and m.
(‘>I
centration, s o that r = r’. T h e designer is thus in a position to predict the peL-
Then, I-quation (8) becomes: formance of a tank-flo\v reactor.
(‘E -c
For cases where short-circuit is present, where h i g h e
111 = - ~
order reactions are involved o r where there is p-
(‘I? - (‘M
flow, studies are actually under way which will be &e
Thus, one could either obtain the value of c for a object of a future publication.
given value of ni o r detcrminc the effective volume b y
measuring feed and outlet concentrations and calculating Apparatus
the theoretical outlet coiiiposition. I t is to be noted that Of the different cases studied theoretically, that in-
in this case the short-circuit effect cancels out. volving partial mixing and short-circuit, as described
b ) First-order reilction, x i t h partial ?nixing and no case No. 2, seemed to be of more immediate inter&
short-circuit. from an experimental point of view. A n apparatus wa
set up, as shown in Figure 9, in which could be studied
In a first-order reaction the rate is proportional to the siniultaneously the variations of effective volume and
concentration of the reactant. If the concentrations were short-circuit with the level of agitation.
cMand c’, the reaction rates would be respectively:
T h e tank used had an internal diameter of 30”. A liquid
r = kc.11
depth of 30” was assured by a properly located outlet of
r’ = I<(.‘ 3” pipe. T h e agitator was an experimental model by
Substituting in Equation (8), one obtains: Cheniineer, a 2 t” simple turbine with inclined blades
being used. A flow regulator and a rotameter were
~ (‘c - 5) 9 inserted in the $“ feed line. T h e feed inlet was 12” f r o m
(‘1: - (‘>I c’ the surface of the liquid and the agitator itself was placed
in between, a t a distance of 6” from the surface.
Now, introducing the value of c’ given in Equation
T h e agitator speed could be adjusted at the proper
(4).
value through a variable speed reducer.
(9)
Experimental procedure
Since the case considered here is that where n o short- At the beginning of a r u n the reservoir was filled to
circuit is present, n = 1 and Equation (9) becomes: the appropriate level with a solution of NaCl, approxi-
mately 1/20 h’. After running the agitator for some time
a t the desired speed to allow for the mixing pattern to
be fully developed, water \vas introduced suddenly a t t h e
required rate of approxiniately 1.15 gallons/min.
Samples were taken at regular time intervals of five
minutes and the NaCl concentration determined volu-
metrically with AgNO,, using K,CrO, as indicator.
Results
T h e experimental results obtained were plotted,. as
suggested already, on semi-log paper. Figure 10 shows t h e

n
&
INLET

i
VARIABLE
SPEED
REDUCER

3
I
-
Figure %Experimental apparatus.

110 The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, June, 1959

 100 200 3CO 400 500 700 900
R PM

Figure 11-Effective volume of mixing vs. agitator rpeed.

t MIN

Figure 10-Experimental results: relative concentration VS.

time.

01
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
RPM
100 150 200 300 400 500 700 900
R PY

Figure 1LShort-eircnh effect vr. agitator rpeed. Figure 13-Variation of m and n with agitator rpeed.

The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, June, 1959 111

 .ruPight lines drawn through the experimental points at
Merent levels of agitation, for values of agitator r.p.m.,
*tea ?S N, ran ing from 0 to 210. Values of m and
B
u were determined rom them for each agitator speed by
'ilkesthod' described.
Even bt an r.p.ni. of 0 given values of ni and n were
.,obtnintd;I they were designated as 111, and no. For any
given v&e of h', then, the value of ni - 111, might
represent' the contribution of the agitator r.p.ni. to the
level of riiixing.
It has heen f m n d that when plotting (m - m,) vs N
on log-log paper, as shown in Figure 11, a straight line
l o f dope 2 is obtained which can t)c represented b y the
quation:
. 'm -
ni, = a N'
' For the particular system studied, the constants ni,,
'
ind a wuc found to be 0.38 and 1.2s x 10-5 respectively.
The'valuc of 0.38 f o r
indicates the level of mixing
ni,,
obtlined Lvhcn thc agitator i\ a t r a t , through the agita-
~OIY produced by thc introduction o f the feed. Such an
effect appears to have k)ccn nicntioned first b!~ VacDonaId
Md Piret (I"), \\.hen measuring niixing times in a vessel.
. AS the value of ni reaches 1, when the agitator speed
b increascd, a niaxinium value of (111 - tiil,) is reached.
This vduc remains constant thereafter even if the agitator
peed is increased tjccausc the system behaves as one
g~vingperfect niixing.
Procwding in a similar \vay, the values o f (n - n o )
I
, 01 N were plotted on log-log paper as sho\vn in Figure
12, 'giVin$ a straight line o f slope 3. T h e values of n arc
Gim d a a d Lo the agitator r.p.ni. by the equation:
-
n n,,= I) N:'
wbere, for the p:irticular s>,steiii studied, no = 0.77 and
. b5 2 x lo-".
'',
When plotting, on a linear scale, the values of 111
9 PI 8 function o f S, as in Figure 13, both variables arc
' , f m d to reach 3 niasinium value o f 1 at an r.p.m. o f
proximately 220, indicating that the system behaves
M as one giving perfect mixing.
Co~lurbns
"
The method c1cscrit)cd to determine mixing efficiencies
h COntinrious flow s y s t e m should prove to be a very
:useful ta)l in evaluating the actual performance of
ea Not only is it possible to obtain optimum results
,:withigiven mixer h i t the relative performance of mixers
id m e r e n t design can be estaMished since efficiency
imcom,remcnts arc possible.
4.. The COntribution t o the design o f tank flow reactors
Add &o be o f iniportance because a method is now
+lablt to take into account the effects o f partial mixing.
l $ n p v e d designs, n i t h the Ilcst possible use of agitators,
i h d tCguIt.
)
i+
I
The
cxpcriniental results obtained to date arc very
, l\'hilc they do not draw a coniplcte picture
to the liinitcd extent o f experimental work
t)c perfornicd, they point to a number of
h t s t i g a & ) n s v.hich should lead to a coniprchensivc
Eaowledgc of niixing.
112
A new experimental set-up providing for a wider
variety of investigations is nearing completion. Among
others, the factors to be studied include t h e position,
speed of rotation, shape and size of the agitator, the
physical properties and the relative depth of the liquid,
the location o f the feed, the manner in which it is intro-
duced, its rate and inlet velocity, and the outlet position
relative to the inlet.
Other types of agitating systems will he considered,
including those with internal recirculation and o f , &g
draft-tube type.
T h e study of systerns involving chemical reactions
already under way.
Nomenclature
a = Coti~taiit,rclatiiig cffcctivc. voliimc. to agitator slicc(l.
IJ = Const,iiit, relating short-circuit cBect t o agiiator speed.
c = Voliiiiic,tric coiiccaiitratioii, Il)s./ft.3
CI; : coiiceiitralioii of the fcrtl.
c>I : coiicciitr~itioii o f the c f f l u r n t if iiiixinx W ~ L Sperfect.
\vhcLii a chemical reaction is prcsciit.
c , : initi;il coiiccntr,ition.
c' : conceiitr;i(ioii i i i the LOW of pcrfvct mi\iiig
I<, K 1 ,I<;, I<?, I G : Colistants of integration.
111 = Fractioii of t h e t o t ; i I voliirni~which is prrfrctl!. m i u d
i n , : value of 111 whcii thc ;igitator is a t rvst.
II = Frartioii o f thc fcccl entering t h c zoiic o f p ,rf-ct iiii\iiig.
: value of II whcii the agitator i \ at rest.
11,
N = .Agitator spcrtl, l<.l',hl.
p = Fraction o f the feed going t o the stagiiaiit z o i i ~ * .
(1 = Iiatc of flow,f ~ . ~ ' h r .
r = lieaction rate, llis.,/(ft.3) ( h r . )
s = Fraction of part nq of the f c w l eiiteriiig t h e z o ! ~o f pvrfcrt
inixiiig which sul)~eqiieiitlypasses o u t into th,. s t : ~ g n a i i t
zone.
t = 'Line, hrs.
(1 - 1n)V
ti : ~~ ~
nsq
and v = Volumr, I t 1
Re jerences
( 1 ) Coulson and Rirh:irdson, Chemical Engineering. Vol. 11, p. 917.
McGraw Hill Co. (19,55).
( 2 ) Perry, J. H., Chemical Enginerrs' Handbook, 3rd Ed.. p. 1195,
hfcCrew Hill Co. (19.50).
( 3 ) Rushtiin. J. H., Ind. Eng. Chem. 45, 9 3 ( 19.53 ) .
( 4 ) liuahtrm, J. IT., Ind. Enp. Chem. 46, 133 ( 1 9 5 4 ) .
( 5 ) Ru\htoii. J . H., Ind. Eng. Chem. 47, 582 ( 1 9 5 5 ) .
( 6 ) Riishton, J H., Ind. Eng. Chem. 48. 552 ( 19.56).
( 7 ) X.lcC;ihv .ind Smith, Unit Operations of Chemical Engineering,
p. 292, MrGmw Hill Co. (19.56).
(8) hlacMullin, H.B., and Weher, H.. Trans. A.1.Ch.E. 31, 409 ( 1 9 3 5 ) .
( 9 ) Drnbigli. K . G., Trans. Faraday SOC.40, 3.52 ( 1 9 4 4 ) .
1 0 ) Weher, A. P.. Chem. Eng. Prop. 49, 26 ( 1 9 5 3 ) .
1 1 ) Colbiirn. A . P , Trans. A.1 Ch E. 31, 457 ( 1 9 3 5 ) .
12) M,ichlnllin, R . B., Chrm. Eng. Prng. 49, 33 (19.53).
1 3 ) Beaiidry, J . P.. Chi-rn. & Mrt. Enpr 55 No. 7, 112 ( 1 9 4 8 ) .
14) I>anckwc~rt\.P. V., Chrm. Eng. Sci. 2. 1-13 ( 1 9 5 3 ) .
15) Germ,iin. J E., Bull. Soc. Chini. France ( 19.57) 484-5.
1 6 ) hlacDonald, R. W., and Piret, E. L., Chem. Eng. Prop. 47, 363
( 1% 1 ).
1 7 ) N.igat.i, S., Epuchi, W., Inainiira, R . . Tanigawa, K., and Tan&q ,
T., Chcm. Eng. (J.ipan) 17, 3x7 (19.53). . ..
18) N ~ g a t a .S.. Eguchi, W., nnd Tanaka, T..Chem. Eng. (Japan)
163 ( 19%).
la,
'
1 9 ) Suzuki, E.. and Saito. J., Chem. Enp. (Japan) 21, 91 ( 1957).
2 0 ) Smith, J. M.. Chemical Enginrrring Kinetics, p. 172. 17.5, M c d
Hi11 Co. (19.56).
* * *
The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, June, 1959