Radial mixing in horizontal aerated tubular reactor

The article discusses radial mixing in a Horizontal Aerated Tubular Reactor (HATR). The study aimed to experimentally investigate mixing in HATR by determining mixing time, liquid circulation time, and Peclet number values, which measure the ratio of advective to diffusive transport rates. The experimental setup included a transparent tube for observing fluid mixing and a color tracer was used for visualizing mixing. Mixing and circulation times were determined using non-intrusive optical method. The experimentally determined circulation time was in the range of 3÷6.5 s, and the mixing time was in the range of 5÷20 s. The results suggested that fluid flow structure in HATR was closer to plug flow rather than ideal mixing, as indicated by high Peclet numbers (20÷45).