How Mikrotron Camera Helps Reduce Excessive Foam in Industrial Stir Tanks

In many industrial processes, foaming is an unavoidable side-effect of mixing, shearing, and powder incorporation. Excessive foam can lead to operational issues such as reduced equipment efficiencies, impaired heat transfer, product quality issues, and malfunctioning of pumps and valves. Foam also occupies tank volume, decreasing processing capacity or leading to tank overflow.

Over the years, various foam management techniques have been used, with antifoam chemicals being the most common. However, these chemicals can introduce extra compounds that disrupt reaction kinetics and raise regulatory concerns in pharmaceuticals and food production.

A study by Université de Toulouse, Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, explored how process variables affect foam development in gas-liquid stirred tanks. The impact of gas flow rate, rotational speed, and impeller type on foam generation was investigated by measuring foam height during mixing processes.

Researchers used a Perspex tank with baffles and different impellers, testing various operating conditions. Foam height was measured using image analysis with a Mikrotron EoSens MC1362 camera capturing images at high speeds. Deep learning methods were employed to analyze foam images and determine its height.

The study found that process conditions leading to smaller bubbles resulted in larger quantities of foam and higher gas holdup. Different impeller designs affected gas dispersion and liquid mixing, influencing foam generation. The research highlighted the importance of impeller design and operating conditions in controlling foam in stirred tank processes.

Future research will focus on correlating foam height with influencing parameters and developing scale-up guidance for industrial applications to enhance foam control strategies.

According to the source: AZoBuild.