Metallurgical Engineering

Metallurgical Engineering

simulation of fluid flow in settler of copper solvent extraction process

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
delaram mansourian 1
eskandar keshavarz alamdari 2
1 iran science and technology
2 faculty member-amirkabir university of technology-material science and engineering
10.22076/me.2017.50845.1103
Abstract
Mixer- settlers are widely used for solvent extraction process in industry. The aims of this project are
simulation of fluid flow and optimizing the operational conditions of settler in solvent extraction
process. Designing and meshing of settler geometry is done by Gambit software. Then, in order to
simulate the fluid flow, the meshed designed imported to Ansys Fluent software. Simulation results
were verified before simulation. Effect of Inlet volumetric on phase separation investigated. The effect
of geometry of picket fences was investigated by the presence of cubic, cylindrical picket fences, picket
fences with 5 corner cross section and half cylindrical picket fences. A few extra plates of picket fences
were located near the entrance of settler. Phase separation in presence of two and three rows of picket
fences investigated. Results indicate that by reducing the inlet volumetric rate, increasing the number of
rows, putting extra plates of picket fences in front of entrance and decreasing the closed to open
surface ratio to 2, separation improves.
Keywords
Solvent extraction
settler
picket fence
simulation of fluid flow
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  • Receive Date 11 October 2016
  • Revise Date 22 June 2017
  • Accept Date 22 June 2017