DTB‐Inspired Crystallizer Flow Optimization via Vortex Regulation: Li 2 CO 3 Quality and Mixing Efficiency
Xujie Shi, Yanfang Ma, Xin Liu, Yanlin Li, Xinqiao Shi, Zhenhua Cui, Haiping ZhaoABSTRACT
To address poor particle size uniformity, unstable yield, and low reproducibility in Li 2 CO 3 reactive crystallization from salt lake brine, this study optimizes a draft‐tube‐baffle (DTB)‐inspired crystallizer by tuning its internal flow field. Using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations and experiments, six adjustable parameters were evaluated. Sensitivity analysis shows that rotational speed has the highest energy sensitivity (324%), whereas agitator and draft tube heights are critical for flow efficiency (>158% sensitivity). Under optimized conditions, mixing time drops to 8.8 s, specific mixing energy to 4.55 kJ·m −3 , saving 79.6% energy versus conventional operation. Crystallization tests confirm the optimized flow eliminates dead zones, yielding Li 2 CO 3 with ≥98.18% purity, <1.4% spatial purity variation, uniform morphology, and narrow size distribution (Span <1.0). This work provides a lab‐scale basis for industrial DTB optimization, though scale‐up validation is required.