CFD Modelling of Mixing and Heat Transfer in Batch Cooling Crystallizers

A novel predictive compartmental modelling framework for the dynamic simulation and scale-up of batch cooling suspension crystallization vessels within gPROMS process modelling software based on CFD simulations is presented. The gPROMS compartmental model combines hydrodynamic information obtained from CFD simulations with the full population, mass, concentration and energy balances including the crystallization kinetics within each compartment. The design of the compartmental structure is based on high-resolution simulations of the internal flow, particle-solvent phase mixing and heat transfer. CFD simulations of the turbulent flow field were carried out using the standard k-ɛ turbulence model and particle-solvent phase simulations based on the advanced multifluid phase model (MFM). A detailed compartmental model is constructed for batch crystallizers equipped with two different impeller configurations based on the overall flow pattern, local energy dissipation, solids concentration and temperature distribution from CFD simulations.