Water and n-Heptane Volume Fractions in a Rotor-Stator Spinning Disc Reactor

Abstract

This paper presents the volume fractions of n-heptane and water measured in a rotor-stator spinning disc reactor. The volume fractions were measured using γ-ray tomography and photographic image analysis. The volume fractions were determined as a function of rotational disc speed, flow ratio, position in the reactor, and rotor material. In addition, the effect of the density difference between water and n-heptane was determined by dissolving potassium iodide in the water phase. Below a rotational disc speed of 75 rpm the volume fraction measured by tomography and photographic image analysis are within 10% deviation. For low rotational disc speeds, the n-heptane volume fraction decreases slightly with increasing rotational disc speed: the centrifugal force accelerates the larger n-heptane droplets to the center. At higher rotational disc speeds the droplets become smaller accordingly, the friction between the phases determines the flow, and the n-heptane volume fraction becomes equal to the n-heptane to total flow ratio. An increase in density difference from 0.31 to 0.79 kg dm –3 did not influence the volume fractions.