SWENSON WALKER CRYSTALLIZER

AIM: To study crystallization process with Swenson Walker

Crystallizer.
APPARATUS:
Swenson Walker Crystallizer.
Feed for Crystallization.
INTRODUCTION
Crystallization:Crystallization is the formation of solid particles within a
homogeneous phase. It may occur as the formation of solid
particles in a vapor, as in snow; as solidification from a liquid melt,
as in the manufacture of large single crystals; or as crystallization
form liquid solution.
Crystal
A crystal is a regular polyhedral form, bounded by smooth faces,
which is assumed by a chemical compound, due to the action of its
interatomic forces, when passing, under suitable conditions, from
the state of a liquid or gas to that of a solid.

Crystal Lattice is defined as a three dimensional network of

imaginary lines connecting the atoms or molecules.
The distance between the center of two atoms (or molecules) is
called length of unit cell and the angle between the edges of a unit
cell is called as lattice angle.
Crystal Forms
Crystal lattice can be classified according to the angles between the
faces. There is only finite number of symmetrical arrangements
possible for a crystal lattice, this is termed as crystal forms.
The ability of a compound to exist in different crystal forms is
known as polymorphism.
There are six types of crystal forms, depending on the arrangement
of the faces expressed as crystal axes and angles between the axes.
1. Cubic - The three crystallographic axes are all equal in length
and intersect at right angles (90 degrees) to each other. [a = b =
c]
2. Tetragonal - Three axes, all at right angles, two of which are
equal in length (a and b) and one (c) which is different in length
(shorter or longer). Note: If c was equal in length to a or b, then
we would be in the cubic system.

3. Orthorhombic - Three axes, all at right angles, and all three of

different lengths. Note: If any axis was of equal length to any
other, then we would be in the tetragonal system
4. Hexagonal - Four axes, three of the axes fall in the same plane
and at 600 to each other. These 3 axes, labeled a1, a2, and a3,
are the same length. The fourth axis, termed c, may be longer or
shorter than the a axes set. The c axis also passes through the
intersection of the a axes set at right angle to the plane formed
by the a set.
5. Monoclinic - Three axes, all unequal in length, two of which (a
and c) intersect at an oblique angle (not 90 degrees), the third
axis (b) is perpendicular to the other two axes. Note: If a and c
crossed at 90 degrees, then we would be in the orthorhombic
system.
6. Triclinic - The three axes are all unequal in length and intersect
at three different angles (any angle but 90 degrees). Note: If any
two axes crossed at 90 degrees, then we would be describing a
monoclinic crystal.
THEORY OF CRYSTALLIZATION
In the formation of crystals two steps are required:
(i) Nucleation: i.e. the birth of a new solute particle and

(ii) Crystal growth: i.e. the growth of the nucleus to macroscopic

size.
CLASSIFICATION OF CRYSTALLIZERS
Crystallization equipment is classified by the methods by which
super saturation is bought about. These are as follows:
1. Super saturation by cooling alone
a. Batch processes
i. Tank crystallizers
ii. Agitated batch crystallizers
b. Continuous processes
i. Swenson-Walker
ii. Other
2. Super saturation by adiabatic cooling
a. Vacuum crystallizers
i. without external classifying seed bed
ii. with external classifying seed bed
3. Super saturation by evaporation
a. Salting evaporators
b. Krystal evaporators
THEORY:
It consists of an open trough with a semi cylindrical bottom. A
water jacket is welded to the outside surface of the trough. Inside
the trough a slow speed, long pitch, spiral agitator is fitted as close
as possible to the bottom of the trough. The agitator rotates at a
low RPM.

Functions of the spiral stirrer:

1. It prevents the accumulation of crystals on the cooling
surface.
2. It lifts the crystals that have already been formed and
shower them down through the solution.
In this manner, the crystals grow while they are freely suspended
in the liquid and therefore they are:
1. Fairly perfect individuals.
2. Uniform in size
3. Free from inclusions or aggregations.
Advantages:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Large saving in floor space.

Large saving in material in process.
Saving in labor.
Uniform size crystals.
Free from inclusions and aggregations.

Procedure:
This is continuous type crystallizer. The hot supersaturated
solution is fed at one end of the trough, and the cooling water is
flows in the jacket. As the hot solution flows along the trough it is
cooled and crystals are formed. Agitator prevents an accumulation
of the crystals on the cooling surface and, lift the crystals and
shower them through the solution. In this manner perfectly
individual crystals are formed.
At the end of the crystallization the mother liquor and the crystals
are flowed in a draining table or drain box from which the mother
liquor is separated and fed in the crystallizer again. The crystals
are sent to centrifuge.