Finite element modeling of the laminar and transition flow of the Superblend dual shaft coaxial mixer on parallel computers

The macro-mixing mechanisms of the Superblend coaxial mixer consisting of a Maxblend impeller and a double helical ribbon agitator mounted on two independent coaxial shafts rotating at different speeds are numerically investigated. The simulations are based on the resolution of the Navier-Stokes equations with help of a parallel three-dimensional finite element solver exploiting the capabilities of high performance computers. To model the rotation of agitators a hybrid approach based on a novel finite element sliding mesh and fictitious domain method is used. The power consumption, the flow patterns, the shear rate distribution, the pumping capacity and the mixing time of the Superblend mixer are calculated from the simulated hydrodynamics. The simulations allow observing the flow as it evolves from deep laminar (Re=0.1) to transition (Re=520) regime. As Reynolds number increases, several recirculation zones above and below the middle of the tank are formed. It is found that operating the agitators in co-rotation mode requires less power consumption and exhibits equal or shorter mixing time than counter-rotation mode. The larger power consumption in counter-rotating mode is caused by the presence of high shear vortices generated between the two coaxial agitators. Furthermore it is shown that the shear distribution throughout the Superblend coaxial mixer operating in co-rotation mode is almost homogenous, which is highly desirable for shear sensitive products. In view of the results obtained in this work, the Superblend coaxial mixer is found as a good alternative for tough mixing applications.     

新型同心双轴搅拌器功率与混合特性的数值模拟

基于同心双轴搅拌器的结构与运行特点,建立了兼顾其流动、混合过程的三维数学模型,并以过程工业应用较多的两种不同尺寸双层组合桨作为内桨、框式桨作为外桨构成的同心双轴搅拌器为研究对象,数值模拟了其在中高黏牛顿流体中同向及反向转动模式的功率特性、流场特性及混合特性。模拟结果表明,同向转动模式下,整个系统的搅拌功耗更小、混合效率更高;外桨功耗受内桨影响较大,一般随内桨转速的增大,恒速外桨的功耗同向转动时会减小、反向转动时会增大;对由桨式搅拌器构成的组合式内桨而言,当内桨直径与釜体直径之比为0.35左右时,相同Reynolds数下的单位体积混合能更小;中高黏牛顿流体中,同心双轴搅拌器的内桨采用上层六斜叶桨+下层六直叶桨的组合形式时更高效节能,仅在体系Reynolds数小于36时,上层二斜叶桨+下层二直叶桨的内桨组合形式才具有相对优势。     

Experimental investigation on micromixing characteristics of coaxial mixers in viscous system

An experimental investigation into the micromixing performance of coaxial mixers in a viscous system is reported, in which the iodide-iodate reaction system is chosen to quantitatively characterize the product distributions. The effects of feeding time, feeding position, impeller speed, inner impeller configuration, and operation mode on the segregation index, Xs, are examined. It is revealed that the feeding near the inner impeller benefits micromixing and should be regarded as the preferred position. The presence of the rotating outer impeller causes the micromixing performance of the coaxial mixer to be significantly better than the single-shaft mixer. While an increase in the outer impeller speed has a limited influence on micromixing, the inner impeller speed is the dominant influencing factor, that is, the Xs decreases obviously when the inner impeller speed is increased. On the other hand, the coaxial mixers with multiple and axial inner impellers have a better micromixing performance at the same specific power consumption, P_V, than that with single and radial inner impellers. Among the configurations consisting of a Rushton impeller (RT), six-straight-blade turbine impeller (SBT), and six-pitched (45°)-blade turbine impeller (PBT), the Xs of the coaxial mixer is always the smallest at the same P_V when the PBT + RT configuration is used as the inner impeller. In addition, it is found that the difference in Xs that results from various operation modes is small in terms of power consumption; however, the co-rotation mode is still recommended for the micromixing of the coaxial mixer due to its excellent performance in general.     

Numerical study on solid suspension characteristics of a coaxial mixer in viscous systems

A coaxial mixer consisting of an anchor and a Rushton turbine was selected as the research object, whose solid suspension characteristics were studied with the help of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) method. Based on the Eulerian-Eulerian method and modified Brucato drag model, the just-suspension speed of impeller was predicted, and the simulation results were in good agreement with the experimental data. The quality of solid suspension under different rotation modes was also compared, and the results showed the coaxial mixer operating under co-rotation mode could get the best performance, and a larger anchor speed was beneficial to solid suspension by enhancing the turbulent intensity at the bottom. Compared with the anchor, the inner Rushton turbine played a dominant role in solid suspension due to its high rotational speed, whereas an extremely high inner impeller speed would make the uniformity of solid distributions become worse. Additionally, the effects of solid phase properties were also investigated, the results revealed that the higher the overall solid volume fraction and the smaller the Shields number, the worse the performance of solid suspension, meanwhile the solid suspension was more susceptible to solid density compared with particle diameter within the same Shields number gradient.     

剪切变稀体系同心双轴搅拌釜内的气液分散模拟

气液搅拌设备因其良好的适用性被广泛应用于过程工业中。为更好地比较不同工况下剪切变稀体系中的气液分散情况,通过实验研究整体气含率和相对功耗确定适宜的转动模式,进而模拟研究表观气速、体系黏度、搅拌转速对气含率和气泡尺寸的影响。结果表明,相同功率下内外双桨反向旋转模式在理想气液分散条件下,相较于单轴内桨和内外双桨同向旋转模式具有更高的气含率和更好的气体泵送能力;表观气速的增加有利于气泡的均匀分散,但气泡尺寸也会随之增大;有效黏度的增加使得搅拌桨的影响区域变小,不利于气泡的均匀分散,气泡尺寸也随之增大;搅拌转速的增加使得循环涡流的影响区域变大,高气含率区不断扩大。     

黏度变化范围大的组合桨的数值模拟与应用

利用计算流体力学的方法研究了ZBK+BKS组合桨和螺带桨(LD)的流场和混合性质。对比研究了组合桨的流型、功率消耗、混合时间及混合能。结果表明:ZBK+BKS组合桨在过渡流区域,BKS起主要的流体混合作用,形成很好的整体轴向混合,而在层流区ZBK与BKS同等重要并且ZBK加强了轴向混合。ZBK+BKS组合桨的混合时间在过渡流区域要小于螺带桨,而层流区相差很小,并且二者的混合能相差较小。所以ZBK+BKS组合桨能够适用于黏度变化较大的混合过程。     

Hydrodynamics Characterization of an Ellipse Gate Impeller by Experimental and Numerical Studies

Hydrodynamics characteristics like flow pattern, shear rate distribution, power consumption, axial pumping capacity, mixing time, and mixing efficiency of an ellipse gate (EG) impeller were investigated by experimental and numerical methods. The numerical simulation results were validated by experimental data of power consumption and mixing time. Results indicate that the axial pumping number of the EG impeller is larger than that of any other reported large‐scale impeller under laminar regime, and that the shear rate formed by this impeller is less sensitive to Reynolds numbers. In‐depth analysis reveals the different function of each part of the EG impeller under different flow regimes. This impeller provides an almost similar mixing efficiency like the double‐helical ribbon impeller under laminar regime, but much higher mixing efficiency both under transitional and turbulent flow regimes.     

Synergistic and interference effects in coaxial mixers: Numerical analysis of the power consumption

This paper is concerned with the design and application of coaxial mixers with the aid of analysis of interaction between each individual impeller.Two types of coaxial mixers pitched blade turbine (PBT)-helical ribbon (HR) and inner-outer HR operated in laminar regime were studied experimentally and numerically.The interaction implies synergistic and interference effects,which was revealed through the investigation of axial circulation rate,energy dissipation rate and power consumption.The influence factors including rotational speed ratio,rotating mode and impeller configuration were explored systematically.Quantitative analysis of power consumption involves three parameters:rate of variation in power consumption,interactive mode and ratio of power consumption.Analysis indicated that some important properties were embodied in the power curve.These properties are one-way and two-way interactions,critical speed ratio and dominant impeller.Finally,a new suggestion for power estimation was given.     

Mixing analysis in a coaxial mixer

The performance of a coaxial mixer in the laminar-transitional flow regime was numerically investigated with Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids. These mixers comprised two shafts: a central fast speed shaft mounted with an open turbine, and a slow speed shaft fitted with a wall scraping anchor arm. To model the complex hydrodynamics inside the vessel, the virtual finite element method (POLY3D^TM software) coupled with a Lagrange multiplier approach to cope with the non-linearity coming from the rheological model was employed. Co-rotation and counter-rotation mode were compared, based on several numerical criteria, namely, mixing time, power consumption and pumping rate. It was found that co-rotating mode is more efficient than counter-rotating mode in terms of energy, pumping rate and homogenization time.     

Effect of Impeller Spacing on the Flow Field of Yield-Pseudoplastic Fluids Generated by a Coaxial Mixing System Composed of Two Central Impellers and an Anchor

The three-dimensional flow field generated by a coaxial mixer composed of double Scaba impellers and an anchor in the mixing of the xanthan gum solution, a non-Newtonian yield-pseudoplastic fluid was investigated using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technique. The mixing time measurements were performed by a non-intrusive flow visualization technique called electrical resistance tomography (ERT). To evaluate the influence of the impeller spacing on the hydrodynamics of the double Scaba-anchor coaxial mixer, the upper impeller submergence was set to 0.140?m while the lower impeller clearance and the spacing between two central impellers were changed within a wide range. The experiments and simulations were conducted for both co-rotating and counter-rotating regimes at different impeller spacing. The analysis of the collected data with respect to the power number, flow number, mixing time, and pumping effectiveness proved that the co-rotating mode had superiority over the counter-rotating regime. Furthermore, the impact of the impeller spacing in the co-rotating mode was assessed with respect to the mixing time, power number, and mixing energy. The results demonstrated that a coaxial mixer with the impeller spacing of almost equal to the central impeller diameter (C₂?=?0.175?m) and the impeller clearance of C₃?=?0.185?m was the most efficient configuration compared to the other cases. Additionally, the influence of the impeller spacing on the flow pattern was assessed in terms of the radial velocity, tangential velocity, axial velocity, shear rate, and apparent viscosity profiles. When the impeller spacing (C₂) was varied, the merging flow and parallel flow patterns were observed.     

Power-draw analysis of a coaxial mixer with Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids in the laminar regime

The power consumption of a new coaxial mixer composed of a wall scraping arm and a series of rods and a pitched-blade turbine mounted on the same axis of revolution and operated in a contra-rotating mode has been characterized. The work is based on experimental measurements and 3D numerical simulations in the case of homogeneous Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids in the laminar regime. Very good agreements between experimental and numerical results have been obtained. It has been shown that the Metzner-Otto concept can be extended to account for the speed ratio between the impellers, which allows to represent the power consumption results of the coaxial mixer on a single power master curve like with a single agitator mixer.     

Power Consumption in the Turbulent Regime for a Coaxial Mixer

The power consumption of a new coaxial mixer composed of an anchor impeller and a pitched‐blade turbine impeller, and a series of rods operated in a contra‐rotating mode has been characterized experimentally in the turbulent regime. It is shown that both the power curve and the turbulent power number vary significantly with the speed ratio between the impellers. Likewise with single impeller mixers, the transition regime starts at a Reynolds number above 100 and the turbulent regime between 10³ and 10⁴ irrespective of the definition of the Reynolds number used.     

流体流变性对错位六弯叶桨流场特性的影响

利用计算流体力学(CFD)的方法,以高黏牛顿流体和假塑性非牛顿流体为研究对象,对错位六弯叶桨在层流域的搅拌流场特性进行了研究。结果表明:数值计算得到的功率值与实验测量值吻合较好,搅拌雷诺数对假塑性流体搅拌流场的量纲一速度和切应变速率影响较大,因此提高转速对改变流场的速度及切应变速率分布是一个有效的办法;而流体的流变性只对假塑性流体的量纲一速度有明显影响,对切应变速率影响较小,当流变指数n<0.3时与n基本无关。当流动由层流向过渡流转变时,搅拌桨的流量准数及泵送效率有显著提高;假塑性流体的流变指数降低时,其泵送效率显著下降。研究进一步认识了错位桨在不同流体中的搅拌流场特点,为高黏假塑性流体搅拌桨的设计、应用以及开发新型搅拌桨提供了参考。     

同心双轴复合式搅拌釜用于牛顿流体时的功耗及混合特性

在直径0.48 m的椭圆底搅拌槽内,液位与槽径比(H/T)为0.6,采用不同粘度的牛顿流体糖浆溶液,研究了分别以CBY, 45o四斜叶桨及Rushton涡轮桨作为快速分散桨、锚式桨作为慢速桨构成的同心双轴搅拌系统,在快、慢速轴同向和异向2种旋转方式操作时的功率特性和混合性能. 结果表明,分散桨对锚式桨的功率消耗影响较大. 两轴同向旋转时,分散桨会使锚式桨的功耗降低,转速比RN增加,降低幅度也增大,RN=14时,锚式桨功率可降至单独旋转时的约10%;异向旋转时锚式桨的功率随RN增加而增加,RN=14时,锚式桨功率可增至单独旋转时的2倍左右. 但锚式桨对分散桨的功率消耗影响很小,在±5%以内. 计算同心双轴复合搅拌系统的复合功率准数和复合雷诺数关系时考虑了RN的影响,使在实验条件下不同转向及RN的功率曲线较好吻合. 混合效果同向旋转优于异向旋转,在牛顿流体中,达到相同混合效果时,CBY桨的能量消耗仅为其他2个分散桨的20%~30%.     

啮合方向对差速非等径双转子挤出机混合能力的影响

利用Polyflow软件对非等径料腔内差速螺旋双转子间熔体流动进行数值模拟,比较了同向和异向双转子二维端面的混合行为。 结果表明,3∶1差速转子混合指数在介于0.5和1之间的约占88 %,拉伸作用强;同向差速的分布混合效果更好;同向双转子料腔内高速分布范围宽,流场内不均匀度大,更加利于流体的相互交换;异向的啮合区压力和剪切速率更大,分散能力更强。     

MIXING PERFORMANCE OF HIGH SHEAR IMPELLERS

The characteristics of a high shear impeller, the TURBON mixer, have been extensively investigated. The correlating equation for power requirement of this mixer with three types of impeller has been obtained for a liquid single phase and a gas-liquid two-phase system. The mixing time for liquid single phase and the mass transfer for both gas-liquid and solids-liquid phases in the TURBON mixer have been studied and the results are compared with the data of a conventional turbine mixer. It has been found that the TURBON mixer provides both high shear rate and excellent blending capacity, and therefore the TURBON mixer can be expected to possess a mixing efficiency higher than that of conventional turbine mixers if the advantages of the TURBON mixer are utilized effectively.     

聚合物溶解槽内双搅拌器流场特性的数值模拟

搅拌设备是目前海上油田实施聚合物驱油的配注系统的关键设备之一。利用计算流体力学方法对聚合物溶解过程采用翼型上推式搅拌器KCXU和锚式搅拌器MS的内外3种组合槽内流场进行了数值模拟,获得了搅拌器槽内的流场特性、循环流量及搅拌器的功率消耗。结果表明:在第1种混合状态时,KCXU搅拌器与转动的MS搅拌器组合时的流场变得更为复杂、无序。在第2,3种混合状态时,KCXU搅拌器与正转的MS搅拌器的组合形成的流场速度较大,加强了KCXU搅拌器的流动范围,并,且形成了最大的循环流量,其功率居中。     

Experimental study on gas–liquid dispersion and mass transfer in shear-thinning system with coaxial mixer

The effects of impeller type, stirring power, gas flow rate, and liquid concentration on the gas–liquid mixing in a shear-thinning system with a coaxial mixer were investigated by experiment, and the overall gas holdup, relative power demand, and volumetric mass transfer coefficient under different conditions were compared. The results show that, the increasing stirring power or gas flow rate is beneficial in promoting the overall gas holdup and volumetric mass transfer coefficient, while the increasing system viscosity weakens the mass transfer in a shearing–thinning system. Among the three turbines, the six curved-blade disc turbine (BDT-6) exhibits the best gas pumping capacity; the six 45° pitched-blade disc turbine (PBDT-6) has the highest volumetric mass transfer coefficient at the same unit volume power.     

Application of KHX Impeller in a Low-shear Stirred Bioreactor☆

In our previous work, a low-shear stirred bioreactor was explored. With a pitched blade turbine impeller downflow (PBTD) used, the shear stress generated is high compared with that in some low shear ax...     

最大叶片式桨流体动力学性能的数值模拟

运用CFD方法研究了最大叶片式桨在层流区域内的流体动力学性能,模拟体系为高粘度牛顿流体和非牛顿流体,主要考察桨叶的功耗特性、Metzner常数、剪切性能和排液性能. 结果表明,功耗计算值与文献实验值基本一致;桨叶的Metzner常数ks=10与流变行为指数n无关;搅拌形成双循环流型,釜中部桨叶所在区剪切速率大、排液量大,产生的漩涡流也大,导致剪切效率低于0.5;随雷诺数增加(Ren=1.4, 5.0, 7.6),全釜平均剪切速率(3.40, 9.91, 15.05 s-1)和全釜平均排液量(0.0014, 0.0033, 0.0052 m3/s)逐渐增加,尤其是桨叶下端两翼区平均剪切速率(4.36, 11.48, 16.35 s-1)和平均排液量(0.0026, 0.0064, 0.0095 m3/s)增加相对较大. 说明Ren增加,搅拌混合作用加强,剪切速率大产生的界面积大,排液量大使高低剪切区内流体快速循环,有利于流体高效混合.