The Taylor-Couette Disc Contactor, a novel gas-liquid multiphase contactor

Abstract

Industrial separation and reaction processes mostly require more than one phase. Defined phase contact of solids (S), liquids (L), and gases (G) forms the physical backbone regarding process intensification and optimization. Novel reactor and contactor design for liquid-liquid operations in the Taylor-Couette Disc Contactor (TCDC) serve in optimizing the contact of two phases as for example in bubble columns or liquid-liquid extraction columns [1]. The Taylor-Couette Disc Contactor combines the advantages of a Taylor-Couette reactor (TCR) and a Rotating disc contactor (RDC). The toroidal Taylor vortexes are stabilized with rotor discs. This geometric design was optimized by CFD simulation and resulted in TCDC design recommendations [2]. The main differences between the RDC and the TCDC are that the TCDC does not need stator rings. The increased rotor disc and shaft diameter combined with optimal compartment height is sufficient to decrease axial backmixing in a stable flow regime without the presence of stator rings. The prevention of hydraulic deadzones due to missing static internals provides ideal conditions to process additional phases like solids or gases. In this work, stable and continuous operation up to four phases has been performed in a TCDC column and proofs the suitability for defined, stable multiphase contact in the TCDC.