Process for providing a homogenous slurry containing particles

Process for providing a homogeneous particle-containing slurry comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a vessel comprising at least one impeller rotating around a vertical axis of the vessel, wherein a rotational speed n1 of the at least one impeller is higher than nmin according to equation (1), the vessel further comprising an inlet and an outlet;
• (b) introducing a particle-containing slurry into the vessel or introducing components forming the particle-containing slurry into the vessel;
• (c) rotating the at least one impeller at least around the vertical axis for homogenizing and/or maintaining a homogeneous particle distribution within the slurry;
• (d) withdrawing the homogeneous particle-containing slurry via the outlet;
• (e) reducing the rotational speed n1 of the at least one impeller to a reduced rotational speed nred, whereas nred is lower than n1 and higher or equal to nmin according to equation (1):
• n
• min
• =
• Sv
• 0.1
• ⁢
• D
• p
• 0.2
• ⁡
• (
• g
• ⁢
• Δ
• ⁢
• ρ
• ρ
• f
• )
• 0.45
• ⁢
• B
• 0.13
• D
• a
• 0.85
• (
• 1
• )
• with
• nmin=minimum rotational speed of the impeller,
• S=shape factor of the impeller,
• ν=kinematic viscosity,
• Dp=average particle size in the slurry,
• g=gravitational constant,
• Δρ=difference between particle density ρp and liquid density ρf in the slurry (ρp−ρf),
• ρf=density of the liquid phase of the slurry,
• B=100*solid weight/liquid weight,
• Da=diameter of the impeller.