ISBN 978-3-8439-5127-2

978-3-8439-5127-2, Reihe Apparatedesign

Mira Schmalenberg
Design and Characterization of Miniaturized Continuous Cooling Crystallizers

223 Seiten, Dissertation Technische Universität Dortmund (2022), Softcover, A5

Zusammenfassung / Abstract

Continuous processes are becoming increasingly important in producing fine chemicals, life science, and pharmaceutical products. Often, continuous operation on a laboratory scale can already completely cover the demand for the production of minimal quantities or enable easier up-scaling of the processes. Cooling crystallization from solutions is an essential unit operation but also implies technical challenges due to the handling of solids in continuous small-scale production. Therefore, it is necessary to offer a comprehensive and sufficient selection of small-scale apparatus concepts, a kind of toolbox, with specific advantages and disadvantages for adjusted process design.

Two specific crystallizers were designed by down-scaling, characterized regarding hydrodynamic behavior, and evaluated in cooling crystallization experiments to expand the knowledge regarding laboratory equipment for continuous cooling crystallization. The crystallizers studied are each from one main category of apparatus types. On the one hand, from the category of stirred tank crystallizers, the “Draft Tube Baffle (DTB)” crystallizer, which is well known and frequently used in the industry, is considered. On the other hand, as a specific crystallizer from the tube crystallizer family, the apparatus concept of the “Coiled Flow Inverter (CFI)” crystallizer is used. Both crystallizers are designed and investigated for a continuous suspension flow of around 15 g/min.

The advantages and hurdles of the respective crystallizers, especially the periphery, require new design approaches. The developed devices and characterizations show the feasibility and the future potential for continuous cooling crystallization for small-scale processes.