VisiMix Conference / Boston

VisiMix Conference

Thibaut Etzel / De Dietrich Process Systems

I. Crystallizer design
I. Context of the engineering study
II. Definition of main parameters
III. Use of VisiMix for the design

II. Crystallizer manufacturing

I. Difficulties of the manufacturing
II. Run tests / VisiMix results

III. Other use of VisiMix

I. Engineering studies
II. Designs of glass-lined and stainless steel vessels
VisiMix Conference

Thibaut Etzel / De Dietrich Process Systems

I. Crystallizer design
I. Context of the engineering study
II. Definition of main parameters
III. Use of VisiMix for the design

II. Crystallizer manufacturing

I. Difficulties of the manufacturing
II. Run tests / VisiMix results

III. Other use of VisiMix

I. Engineering studies
II. Designs of glass-lined and stainless steel vessels
VisiMix Conference

Context of the engineering study

New proposal for a special vessel

Why?
New process and need of a glass-lined vessel
because of corrosion
Crystallization process
Risk of build-up on the wall
Thermal capacity of vessel very important
VisiMix Conference

Context of the engineering study

New proposal for a special vessel

Customer expectations:

- Scraping frequency

- Solids suspension

- Thermal capacity
VisiMix Conference

Context of the engineering study

New proposal for a special vessel

Manufacturer expectations:

- Technical challenge

- Process guarantee

- Design with VisiMix

VisiMix Conference

Thibaut Etzel / De Dietrich Process Systems

I. Crystallizer design
I. Context of the engineering study
II. Definition of main parameters
III. Use of VisiMix for the design

II. Crystallizer manufacturing

I. Difficulties of the manufacturing
II. Run tests / VisiMix results

III. Other use of VisiMix

I. Engineering studies
II. Designs of glass-lined and stainless steel vessels
VisiMix Conference

Definition of main parameters

 Scraping frequency

Risk of crystals build up on the wall

Scraping required (between 0.5 and 1 Hz)
One solution : An anchor agitator with scrapers
Diameter of vessel: 2.4 m / diameter of anchor: 2.2 m
How many arms for anchor (2 / 3 / 4 )
It determines the speed rotation
VisiMix Conference

Definition of main parameters

 Scraping frequency

Anchor agitator / Speed rotation

Large diameter (2.2 m)
Large height of agitator (5.6 m)
No guides on the bottom

Anchor agitator with 2 arms (average 25 rpm)

VisiMix Conference

Definition of main parameters

 Solids suspension

Crystallization will create solids particles

- Special vessel with anchor agitator

- For a good solids suspension, we use VisiMix to

design the vessel with baffles and to know the
capacity of agitator to keep solids into suspension
VisiMix Conference

Definition of main parameters

 Thermal capacity

To achieve the crystallization:

- Cooling capacity of 5 kW / m²

- Heat exchange area of 28 m²

- Maximal T between process fluid and thermal fluid

= 17 C
VisiMix Conference

Definition of main parameters

 Thermal capacity

T between process fluid and thermal fluid < 17 C

Glass-lined vessel

Bad heat exchange because of thermal conductivity

of enamel

Enamel thickness very important

VisiMix Conference

Thibaut Etzel / De Dietrich Process Systems

I. Crystallizer design
I. Context of the engineering study
II. Definition of main parameters
III. Use of VisiMix for the design

II. Crystallizer manufacturing

I. Difficulties of the manufacturing
II. Run tests / VisiMix results

III. Other use of VisiMix

I. Engineering studies
II. Designs of glass-lined and stainless steel vessels
VisiMix Conference

Use of VisiMix for the design

Scraping frequency

Speed rotation defined => 25 rpm

But absorbed power could be a limitation

Why?
Pa = Np x x N3 x d5
VisiMix Conference

Use of VisiMix for the design

Scraping frequency

Definition of motor power

Pa = Np x x N3 x d5

Motor power is important for calculation of stresses

and forces applied to agitator shaft

VisiMix enabless an estimation of absorbed power, so

all definition of complete agitation is based on these
calculations
VisiMix Conference

Use of VisiMix for the design

 Solids suspension

Cristallization will create solids particles

- VisiMix parameters:
VisiMix Conference

Use of VisiMix for the design

 Solids suspension
VisiMix Conference

Use of VisiMix for the design

Thermal capacity

Calculation of global heat exchange coefficient

Calculation of heat transfer rate

Q=KxSx T
VisiMix Conference

Use of VisiMix for the design

Thermal capacity

Calculation of global heat exchange coefficient with

VisiMix

Adjustment with enamel thickness (in VisiMix = 1.2

mm)

Product convection coefficient and jacket coefficient

have been calculated with VisiMix (agitation and half
coil are the main parameters)
VisiMix Conference

Use of VisiMix for the design

Thermal capacity

Use of different VisiMix tools:

- Heat transfer rate

- Temperature of thermal fluid (inlet and outlet)

- Convection coefficient

- Heat transfer area

VisiMix Conference

Thibaut Etzel / De Dietrich Process Systems

I. Crystallizer design
I. Context of the engineering study
II. Definition of main parameters
III. Use of VisiMix for the design

II. Crystallizer manufacturing

I. Difficulties of the manufacturing
II. Run tests / VisiMix results

III. Other use of VisiMix

I. Engineering studies
II. Designs of glass-lined and stainless steel vessels
VisiMix Conference

Difficulties of manufacturing

 Technical challenge

 Glass-lining is a complex and very sensitive process

 Capacity of heaven

 VisiMix calculation help us to design the vessel and

anchor to match with customer expectation

 VisiMix calculation gives us values for mechanical

design (with Ansys)
VisiMix Conference

Manufacturing difficulties
VisiMix Conference

Manufacturing difficulties
VisiMix Conference

Thibaut Etzel / De Dietrich Process Systems

I. Crystallizer design
I. Context of the engineering study
II. Definition of main parameters
III. Use of VisiMix for the design

II. Crystallizer manufacturing

I. Difficulties of the manufacturing
II. Run tests / VisiMix results

III. Other use of VisiMix

I. Engineering studies
II. Designs of glass-lined and stainless steel vessels
VisiMix Conference

Run tests / VisiMix results

Test from August 2010

PICT3457.MOV

Today’s status => vessel installed on final plant

1st test with crystals production

Absorbed power 20% higher with VisiMix

VisiMix Conference

Run tests / VisiMix results

Conclusion:

The use of VisiMix enables us to give process

guarantees and obtain the order!

The design was based on all these calculations and

now we can say that it is a real success.
VisiMix Conference

Thibaut Etzel / De Dietrich Process Systems

I. Crystallizer design
I. Context of the engineering study
II. Definition of main parameters
III. Use of VisiMix for the design

II. Crystallizer manufacturing

I. Difficulties of the manufacturing
II. Run tests / VisiMix results

III. Other use of VisiMix

I. Engineering studies
II. Designs of glass-lined and stainless steel vessels
VisiMix Conference

Engineering studies

Different types of VisiMix for De Dietrich

- Process scale-up and scale-down

- Process moved in other plants

- New process (definition of mixing system) => best

solution

- Modification of equipments
VisiMix Conference

Thibaut Etzel / De Dietrich Process Systems

I. Crystallizer design
I. Context of the engineering study
II. Definition of main parameters
III. Use of VisiMix for the design

II. Crystallizer manufacturing

I. Difficulties of the manufacturing
II. Run tests / VisiMix results

III. Other use of VisiMix

I. Engineering studies
II. Designs of glass-lined and stainless steel vessels
VisiMix Conference

Design of glass-lined and stainless steel vessels

Use of VisiMix = best solution of agitation

Different types of process can be checked

- Solids dissolution

- Solids suspension

- Gas dispersion
VisiMix Conference

Conclusion

Partnership between De Dietrich and

VisiMix for 10 years

VisiMix = Design and marketing tool

Thank you very much

for your attention