Visual Observations of Mixing Quality in a Prototype Canyon Tank

A series of mixing tests were performed to identify the range of liquid levels and overall dispersed (organic) concentrations where a constant agitator speed representative of plant operations could eliminate a separate organic layer on the liquid surface. The test runs were made in a transparent, baffled, paddle-agitated, Plexiglas vessel which was fitted with three concentric cooling coils. A visual observation method was used without taking any samples to determine the quality of mixing in the agitated vessel as a function of the total liquid level in the vessel at a given dispersed phase concentration (8 vol %) and various organic phase concentrations at a constant water content. The observations have determined that gross uniform dispersion throughout a canyon tank can be achieved with the current plant impeller speed when the total liquid level is near the vicinity of the second (top) impeller. These observations were recorded in a video tape