| Abstract: | The dependence of power consumption on impeller spacing in unaerated and aerated gas‐liquid contactors agitated by dual Rushton turbine systems was studied, and the gas flow rate and viscosity effects were measured in relation to these parameters. The experiments were carried out in a 0.19 m i.d. vessel stirred by two Rushton turbines with a diameter d = 0.10 m; with blade length and blade height 0.25 d and 0.2 d, respectively. In tap water the impellers acted independently for spacings greater than 1.65 d, while in glycerol solutions the two impellers already acted independently at an impeller spacing equal to 1.2 d. In aerated systems, a notable increase in the power consumption with increasing impeller spacing could be detected for small gas flow rates and low viscosities, while a decrease in the Newton number with increasing Froude number could be observed at constant impeller spacing. The Newton number was not affected by flow number at high viscosity values. |
