Mixing Analysis in a Stirred Tank Equipped with an Innovative Impeller
摘要
The mixing process's efficiency depends on multiple parameters, including mixing phases’ viscosity, the density of the liquids, temperature, system configuration, and, foremost, the impeller geometry. In this research, the main goal is to investigate both numerically and experimentally the influence of an innovative jet-type impeller on fluid flow mixing phenomena in a cubical tank. The analysed impeller was designed to mix fluids with a wide range of viscosities while minimizing product degradation and energy consumption. Mixing performance and efficiency were assessed through fluid motion analysis and power number evaluation. Flow fields were obtained using Computational Fluid Dynamics and Particle Image Velocimetry measurements, while power consumption was measured with a high-precision torque meter. The jet-type impeller demonstrates a low power number across a broad range of Reynolds numbers. Upon exceeding the critical Reynolds number, the flow transitioned to a turbulent regime, and the power number stabilized at a significantly lower value compared to conventional designs.