Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering, Vol.10, No.2, 202-207, 2002
Analyses of multiplicity and stability patterns of agglomeration controlled precipitation with both primary and secondary nucleations
The possibility of multiplicity in an isothermal continuous mixed suspension-mixed product removal crystallizer is explored using the bifurcation theory. A process involving agglomeration controlled precipitation is considered in which secondary nucleation occurs simultaneously with primary nucleation. The determinant equations for the existence of multiple steady states are developed and the multiplicity boundaries dependent on the physical and kinetic properties and operational parameters of the process are obtained by resolving these determinant equations. The number of steady states in the precipitator for various multiplicity regions is determined and the linear stability of these steady states is analyzed by using the Routh criterion.
Keywords:precipitation;mixed suspension-mixed product removal crystallizer;agglomeration;multiplicity;stability