Optimisation of stirred vessel geometry for the drawdown and incorporation of floating solids to prepare concentrated slurries

The optimal geometry from the DoE was found using a down-pumping PBT, 10° tilt, 10% of the vessel diameter eccentricity and placed at an initial submergence of half the liquid height. This geometry is shown to reduce the time required to prepare a 50 wt% slurry by two thirds compared to a generic Rushton turbine design, emphasising the benefits of rational impeller and vessel design.