Study of the Mixing Degree in the Cyclone Reactor for Alkylation Catalyzed by Ionic Liquid based on the Information Entropy

A new liquid–liquid cyclone reactor (LLCR) was proposed to enhance the degree of mixing for ionic liquid alkylation. The residence time of the light phase was monitored with the computational fluid dynamics-population balance model coupled model. The mixing entropy and mixing time based on the information entropy were defined to quantify the mixing degree. Additionally, the effects of the operating parameters on the mixing degree were investigated. The results show that the separation process of the light phase is accelerated with the increases in the operating parameters, but the overflow ratio and feed ratio have little effect on the total residence time of the light phase. Besides, a strong mixing degree can be achieved with a high total flow rate and feed ratio and moderate overflow ratio. Based on the results, the mixing-entropy and mixing-time models related to the operating parameters were established. The mixing degree is mainly influenced by the heavy phase in the column section and by the light phase in the cone section, according to the prediction models.