Technological Institute of the Philippines

CRYSTALLIZER
CR – 102
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SPECIFICATION SHEET

CRYSTALLIZER SPECIFICATION SHEET

TECHNICAL DATA
Type Vacuum Crystallizer
Material of Construction ASTM Type 304
Operating Temperature 30 oC
Operating Pressure 70 kPa
Volumetric Flowrate 18.1639 m3/hr
Residence Time 1.5303 hr
DESIGN DIMENSIONS
Volume 27.7971 m3
Diameter 2.8682 m
Height 4.3023 m
NOZZLE DESIGN
Nozzle Area m2
Nozzle Inside Diameter
Nozzle Outside Diameter
Nozzle Thickness

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Stream 27
Composition Mass
H2O(g) 134.97
Total 134.97

Stream 28 Stream 26
Composition Mass Composition Mass
NaCl(aq) 58.45 NaCl(aq) 581.69
H2O(l) 18.00 H2O(l) 1,789.91
Na2CO3-H2O(s) 124.00 Na2CO3(aq) 5,854.85
Na2CO3(aq) 106.00 NaHCO3(aq) 769.34
NaHCO3(aq) 84.00 Total 8,995.79
Total 8,859.22

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Supersaturation
From Particle Technology and Separation Processes, Vol. 2, 5 th edition. (Coulson and
Richardson).

∆c = c − c ∗
c
S=
c∗
∆c
∅= = S−1
c∗
Where:

c = solution concentration

c* = equilibrium saturation value

S = supersaturation ratio

∅ = relative supersaturation

Supersaturation can be generated depending on the solubility of the solute or more

𝑑𝑐∗
precisely on the slope of the solubility – temperature curve, .
𝑑𝑡

Solubility of Na2CO3
39.5 y = 0.0003x2 + 0.0082x + 35.629
39 R² = 0.9998

38.5
38
Solubility

37.5
37
36.5
36
35.5
35
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
Temperature

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Based from the solubility curve of the ammonium chloride, the slope generated is
2.0900.

S = 28.2717
c = 0.6508
Equilibrium Saturation Value
c
S=
c∗
0.6508
28.2717 =
c∗
c ∗= 0.0230
∆c = c − c ∗

∆c = 0.6508 − 0.0230
∆c = 0.6278
Relative Supersaturation
∆c
∅= = S−1
c∗
0.6278
∅= = 27.2717
0.0230
Population Balance, Nucleation, and Crystal Size
Assuming a MSMPR (Mixed Suspension, Mixed Product Removal) crystallizer
without agglomeration and breakage, operating at steady state (Myerson, 2002).

L
n′ = n°exp (− )
Gτ
Where:
n’ = number of crystals per unit size per unit volume of the system

n° = population density of the nuclei

LD = dominant crystal size
G = crystal growth rate

𝜏 = residence time

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According to a study, “SIDS Initial Assessment Report” (Lakhanisky,

2002), dense sodium carbonate crystals is in average sizes of 250 to 500 µm and
dominant particle sizes of 400 µm. Therefore,

LD = 400 μm

L = 375 μm

According to PubChem, Open Chemistry Database, sodium carbonate crystals

are needle-like in shape. Therefore,

K v = volume shape factor = 0.040

K s = surface shape factor = 0.88

Table 1. Kv and Ks Values for crystal shape

Geometric shape kv Ks
Sphere 0.524 3.142
Tetrahedron 0.118 1.732
Octahedron 0.471 3.464
Hexagonal prism 0.867 5.384
Cube 1 6
Needle 5 x 1 x 1 0.040 0.88
Needle 10 x 1 x 1 0.010 0.42
Plate 10 x 10 x 1 0.100 2.4
(Source: Crystallization Technology Handbook)

Acrystal = K s L2

Acrystal = (0.88)(0.000375)2

𝑨𝒄𝒓𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒍 = 𝟏. 𝟐𝟑𝟕𝟓 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟕 𝒎𝟐

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Vcrystal = K v L3

Vcrystal = (0.040)(0.000375)3

𝐕𝐜𝐫𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐥 = 𝟐. 𝟏𝟎𝟗𝟒 × 𝟏𝟎−𝟏𝟐 𝐦𝟑

𝐴𝑡
n° =
K s L2
1.2375 × 10−7 (5)
n° =
(0.88)(0.000375)2
𝐜𝐫𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐬
𝐧° = 𝟒. 𝟑𝟗𝟒𝟓
𝐦 − 𝐦𝟑

L = 3Gτ (A.G. Jones, 200)

(0.000400) = 3Gτ

Gτ = 1.3333 × 10−4 m
Substitute to the population balance equation,
L
n′ = n° exp (− )
Gτ
n′ L
= exp (− )
𝑛° Gτ
n′ 0.0004
= exp (− )
𝑛° 1.3333 × 10−4
n′
= 4.9787 × 10−2 (4.9787%)
𝑛°
Thus 95.021219 % have been discharged by the time it reaches 400 μm.

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Number of crystals/unit size/ unit volume:

n′
= 4.9787 × 10−2
𝑛°
n′
= 4.9787 × 10−2
crystals
0.4.3945
m − m3
crytals
n′ = 0.2188
m − m3
Nucleation Rate
n°
B=
𝐺
B = k b ∆c b
G = kgS

Where
B = nucleation rate
G = growth rate
Kb = nucleation rate constant
Kg = growth rate constant
b = nucleation order
The nucleation rate constant for vacuum crystallizers with temperature profile
6.0920×10−8
ranging from 10°C to 40°C is , and nucleation order is 2.4930. (Molenaar,
𝑚3 −𝑚𝑖𝑛

2011).

B = k b ∆c b

6.0920 × 10−8 1min

B=( )( ) (0.1300)2.4930
𝑚3 − 𝑚𝑖𝑛 60s
crystals
B = 6.2783 × 10−12
m3 − s

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(4.3945)(2.1094 × 10−12 )(0.0004)

G=
(4.3579 × 10−12 )

G = 7.97665 × 10−4

Gτ = 1.3333 × 10−4

(7.97553 × 10−4 )τ = 1.3333 × 10−4

1.3333 × 10−4 1 ℎ𝑟
τ= −4 ×
7.97553 × 10 3600 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑠
𝛕 = 𝟏. 𝟓𝟑𝟎𝟑 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬
Total Crystal Number (NT)
NT = n°Gτ
crystals
NT = (4.3945 ) (1.3333 × 10−4 m)
m − m3
crystals
NT = 5.8594 × 10−4
m3

Solids Production Rate

P = 𝜌𝑀 𝑄
Where
P = production rate
𝜌𝑀 = magma density
Q = volumetric flowrate

Magma density (from aspen) 1,485.7675 kg/m3

Total flowrate 8,995.79 kg/hr

𝑆ince the process is batch, the basis is 1 day of operation

kg 24ℎ𝑟𝑠 𝑑𝑎𝑦 3𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑓𝑡𝑠
𝑃 = 8,995.79 ( ) (1 )( )
hr 𝑑𝑎𝑦 1𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑓𝑡 24 ℎ𝑟𝑠
kg
𝑃 = 26,987.37
batch

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P = 𝜌𝑀 𝑄
kg 𝑘𝑔
26,987.37 = (1,485.7675 3 ) 𝑄
hr 𝑚
m3
Q = 18.1639
hr
Volume of the Crystallizer
𝑉 = 𝜏𝑄

m3
V = (1.5303 hours) (18.1639 )
hr

𝐕 = 𝟐𝟕. 𝟕𝟗𝟕𝟏 𝐦𝟑
Diameter of the Crystallizer
𝐻 3
= (𝑀. 𝐺𝑖𝑢𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑖 𝑒𝑡. 𝑎𝑙. ,2001)
𝐷 2

3 8𝑉
𝐷=√
3𝜋

3 8(27.7971)
𝐷=√
3𝜋

𝐃 = 𝟐. 𝟖𝟔𝟖𝟐 𝐦
Height of the Crystallizer
3
H = D( )
2
3
H = (2.8682 m) ( )
2
𝐇 = 𝟒. 𝟑𝟎𝟐𝟑 𝐦

Working Pressure
(3.5 atm)(101325 Pa)
P=
(1 atm)
𝐏 = 𝟑𝟓𝟒, 𝟔𝟑𝟕. 𝟓 𝐏𝐚 ≈ 𝟑𝟓𝟒. 𝟔𝟑𝟕𝟓 𝐤𝐏𝐚

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Design Pressure
Design Pressure = 1.10(working pressure)
Design Pressure = 1.10(354,637.5 Pa)
𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 = 𝟑𝟗𝟎, 𝟏𝟎𝟏. 𝟐 𝐏𝐚 ≈ 𝟑𝟗𝟎. 𝟏𝟎𝟏𝟐 𝐤𝐏𝐚

Shell Thickness
PD
tp = +C
2fJ − P
Where:
tp = thickness of the shell
P = internal pressure
D = internal diameter
f = allowable working stress for stainless steel 304 (137.896 N/mm2)
J = efficiency (0.7)
C = corrosion allowance (2 mm)
PD
tp = +C
2Se − P
1000 mm
(0.3901 kPa)(2.8682 m × )
tp = m + 3.81 mm
2(0.7)(165) − (0.3901 kPa)
t p = 𝟑. 𝟖𝟏𝟒𝟗 𝐦𝐦 ≈ 𝟒 𝐦𝐦

Nozzle Inside Diameter

kg
Density = 1,485.7675
m3
kg
ρV 2 = 1000
ms 2
kg
1000
v=√ ms 2
kg
1,485.7675 3
m

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m
v = 0.8204
s
kg
feed flow rate = 7.4965
s
𝑘𝑔
m (7.4965 )
𝑠
A= =
ρv (1,485.7675 𝑘𝑔 ) (0.8204 𝑘𝑔)
𝑚3 𝑠

𝐀 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟔𝟐 𝐦𝟐
Nozzle Inside Diameter

4A
D=√
π

4(0.0062 𝑚2 )
D=√
π

𝐃 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟖𝟖𝟓 𝐦 ≈ 𝟖𝟖. 𝟒𝟗𝟎𝟒 𝐦𝐦

Wall thickness of nozzle

Using the same computation for shell thickness in solving thickness of nozzle:

Pi do
tno = +C
2Jf − Pi

N 1000 mm
(0.3901 2 ) ( 0.0885 m × m )
tno = mm + 3.81 mm
N N
2(0.70) (165 ) − (0.3901 )
mm2 mm2

𝐭 𝐧𝐨 = 𝟑. 𝟗𝟓𝟗𝟕 𝐦𝐦 ≈ 𝟒 𝐦𝐦

Nozzle outside diameter, do

do = di + tno

do = 88.4904 mm + 4 mm

𝐝𝐨 = 𝟗𝟐. 𝟒𝟓𝟎𝟏 𝐦𝐦 ≈ 𝟎. 𝟎𝟗𝟐𝟒 𝐦

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Table 1 Nominal Sizing for nozzle pipe

Nominal Pipe Size 4 in

Schedule Number 120
Inside Diameter 3.624 in
Outside Diameter 4.5 in
Wall thickness 0.438 in
Area 5.58 m2
Source: Perry’s Chemical Engineering Handbook, 8th Ed.

Fig. 1 Table 10-22 Properties of Steel Pipe

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