Kajian Pola Pencampuran Reaktan di dalam Static Mixing Reactor untuk Produksi Biodiesel

Abstract

Biodiesel is a diesel fuel substitute materials from the transesterification reaction, ie mixing vegetable oils or animal fats with methanol. Transesterification reaction can be carried out in the static mixing reactor (SMR) to improve mixing. Simulation method with Computational Fluid Dynamics can be used to determine the mixing patterns and relation to the rate of biodiesel production in the SMR. Simulations performed using the stirrer element with twist angle 180°, 120° and 240°. Results of this study indicate that a decline in velocity when the flow through the mixer element, the larger twist angle of the mixer elements produced flow velocity which is uniform, and longer reaction rate where a molecular viscosity values are uniform. Based on the flow velocity, reaction rates and molecular viscosity is known that the mixer element with twist angle of 240° have a better pattern mixing than element with twist angle 180° and 120°.