Continuous slakers

The above practices relate to batch slaking. In continuous slakers, primary nuclei are always being recycled and reduce the levels of super-saturation. As a result, for the same conditions, continuous slakers tend to produce coarser particle size distributions than batch slakers. If required, this effect can generally be offset by adjusting the slaking conditions. 

Many designs of continuous slaker have been developed (see [22.2] for descriptions of some of the units available in North America). Indeed, several major lime manufacturers offer their own design of slaker. 

Most of the continuous slakers may be fitted with grit removal systems. 

FIGURE 7.3 Flowsheet giving the details of a continuous causticization process for the production of sodium hydroxide. Slaker water is normally derived from lime mud washing. The process may also be operated in a batch mode requiring a smaller number of process vessels, and with or without lime recycle. 

Figure 22.2. Diagram of a continuous detention-type of slaker (by courtesy of Dorr-Oliver Inc.) (a) quicklime (b) slaking water (c) stirrer drive (d) impeller (e) slaking compartment ...

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