Performance of Kenics static mixer over a wide range of Reynolds number

The present study deals with the numerical simulation of flow patterns and mixing behaviour in Kenics static mixer over a wide range of Reynolds number. Three different sets of Kenics mixer (aspect ratio = 1.5) comprised of 3, 9 and 25 elements each have been characterized. The Reynolds number was varied in the range of 1 to 25,000 (i.e., from laminar to turbulent flow regime). The numerical approach takes into account the aspects of the fluid flow at higher Reynolds number values including circumferential velocity profiles at different cross-sections within the Kenics mixer, which were neglected in previous studies. It was observed that cross-sectional mixing in the turbulent flow regime takes place up to 30% of each element length at element-to-element transition; beyond that velocity profiles were uniform. The experiments were also carried out to measure the circumferential and axial velocity profiles and pressure drop in three different Kenics Mixers using air as fluid. The pressure drop per unit element (ΔP/η) was found to be independent of the number of Kenics mixing elements used in the system. The total pressure drop across Kenics mixer obtained by CFD simulations were compared with the experimental pressure drop values and correlations available in the literature. The numerical results were found in good agreement with the experimental as well as the results reported in the literature. A new pressure drop correlation in the Kenics static mixer has been developed.     

水平液固循环流化床换热器传热性能评价

对管内插入Kenics静态混合器的水平液固循环流化床换热器进行实验研究,实验考察了静态混合器扭率、静态混合器安装方式、液体流速、颗粒体积分数对传热性能和流阻性能的影响,并运用综合强化传热性能评价指标（PEC）对其进行分析。实验发现,传热性能和阻力系数均随扭率增加而减小。当雷诺数在10000~45000之间时,扭率为1.5、2、2.5、3.5的Kenics静态混合器的PEC指标均大于1,说明了水平流化床换热器插入Kenics静态混合器能够改善传热。在雷诺数达到25000左右、Kenics静态混合器扭率为2.5、颗粒体积分数为4%时,水平流化床换热器的PEC指标最高达到1.18。当两个扭率均为2.5的Kenics静态混合器安装间距为200mm时,水平流化床换热器的PEC指标最高。     

Numerical investigation of the performance of several static mixers

The performance of six static mixer (Kenics, Inliner, LPD, Cleveland, SMX and ISG) are compared using 3D numerical simulations in laminar creeping flow regime. Numerical pressure drop results are tested against experimental ones, showing overall a good agreement. Besides pressure drop, four criteria (extensional efficiency, stretching, mean shear rate and intensity of segregation) are chosen to compare the static mixers. It appears that Kenics, Inliner, LPD and Cleveland mixers are rather similar. The ISG mixer seems better than this first group of mixers, but pressure drop is too high compared to other advantages. From our numerical results, SMX appears to be the most efficient of the six compared static mixers.     

Kenics静态混合器的应用及研究进展

介绍了Kenics静态混合器的混合机理及其在流体混合和强化传热等操作过程中的应用,重点介绍了Kenics静态混合器的压力降计算方法以及拉伸混合和无序混合等方面的研究进展。     

Kenics静态混合器在水平液固循环流化床中的研究

为了解决水平液固循环流化床中颗粒分布不均匀问题,在内径29 mm、长4 m的水平有机玻璃管流化床内放入Kenics静态混合器,采用CCD图像测量与数据处理系统考察静态混合器的结构、个数、安装位置对液固二相流中颗粒分布的影响;同时,利用U型管压差计考察不同条件下静态混合器的压降。实验结果表明:Kenics静态混合器能明显地改善管内颗粒分布情况;单个扭率Y=3.5的Kenics静态混合器压降最小;2个扭率Y=3.5的Kenics静态混合器间距为40 mm时对颗粒分布影响长度是最长的。     

数值模拟静态混合器结构对PS/CO_2熔体温度的影响

利用专用CFD软件Polyflow对SMX型和Kenics型静态混合器中PS/CO_2发泡溶液进行数值模拟计算,分析比较不同板厚在不同元件个数条件下两种静态混合器消耗的压力损失,以及不同CO_2浓度对静态混合器压力损失的影响;并引入"离散系数"分析比较两种静态混合器出口温度均匀性的变化.数值模拟的结果表明:SMX型静态混合器冷却效果优于Kenics型静态混合器,并且SMX型静态混合器出口温度均匀性高于Kenics型静态混合器.     

带有Kenics静态混合器的水平液固两相流化床换热管的压降研究

以饱和硫酸钙为介质,在安装Kenics静态混合器的水平液固两相流化床换热管上进行实验研究,考察介质流速、Kenics静态混合器扭率、颗粒体积分数及颗粒尺寸对压降的影响,并与冷态实验条件下的压降变化规律进行比较。结果表明：同等操作条件,安装Kenics静态混合器后压降比安装前提高20%～140%;压降随雷诺数的增大而增大,随Kenics静态混合器扭率的增大而减小;颗粒体积分数对压降也有影响。根据实验数据,得出了稳定操作条件下压降与上述影响因素之间的经验关联式,为带有Kenics静态混合器的水平液固两相流化床换热器的设计提供计算依据。     

幂律流体在Kenics型静态混合器中流动特性分析

为了探究Kenics型静态混合器内扭旋叶片剪切作用对幂律流体流动的影响,利用旋转流变仪测量了浓度为0.5wt%, 0.7wt%, 0.9wt%的羧甲基纤维素(CMC)水溶液的流变参数,采用数值模拟与实验研究了扭旋叶片作用下幂律流体流动阻力和剪切稀化特性。对流场研究表明,扭旋叶片诱导产生了内流涡旋、绕流涡旋和近壁面涡旋,有效强化了静态混合器内流体流动的剪切作用。受多个纵向涡旋分布的影响,扭旋叶片局域流场中周向45°位置速度最高,周向30°位置涡量与剪切应力最高而黏度最低。径向0.4倍半径位置速度最高,0.7倍半径位置黏度最高。静态混合器有效提高了流体的二次流流动速度和剪切应力,降低了幂律流体的黏度和流动阻力系数。     

Effects of geometry and flow rate on secondary flow and the mixing process in static mixers—a numerical study

A method based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for the characterization of static mixers using the Z factor, helicity and the rate of striation thinning is presented. These measures were found to be well-suited for the characterization of static mixers as they reflect the pressure drop, the formation of secondary flow, i.e. vortices, and their effect on the mixing process. Two commercial static mixers, the Kenics KM and Lightnin Series 45, have been characterized. In the mixers investigated, secondary flow is formed in the flow at the element intersections and due to the curvature of the mixer elements. The intensity of the vortices is higher in the Lightnin than the Kenics mixer due to edges in the middle of the Lightnin mixer elements. The formation of vortices affects the Z factor by an increase in the power requirement, and the rate of striation thinning by an increase in the stretching of the striations. The formation of vortices was observed at a Reynolds number of 10 in both mixers with aspect ratios of 1.5. However, the intensity of the vortices was greater in the Lightnin than the Kenics mixer, which was observed in not only the magnitude of the helicity, but also the Z factor, rate of striation thinning and the distribution of striation thickness.The distribution in striation thickness is shifted towards thin striations as the flow rate is increased from below to above the Reynolds numbers of which vortices were first observed, but some striations still pass the mixer elements almost unaffected, which can be seen in the skewness of the distribution of the striation thickness, which shifts from being negative to positive.     

静态混合器中液液分散的实验及CFD模拟

在SK型静态混合器上进行甲苯-水两相混合实验,采用截面直接拍摄法获得分散混合性能指标Sauter平均直径（SMD）。利用Box-Behnken响应面分析设计实验,在Design Expert 7.0平台上拟合实验数据,获得SMD的多项式形式的表达式。建立了与实验相同的静态混合器物理模型,使用Mixture多相流模型、k-ε湍流模型进行了CFD模拟研究,获得了浓度场云图及分布混合指标不均匀系数。模拟所得压降与实验值的相对误差在15%以内,表明模拟结果与实验结果吻合较好。结果表明,静态混合器中液液分散过程是分散混合和分布混合共同作用的结果,两种混合经过6～8个混合单元后共同达到充分发展。充分发展后的SMD受表观流速、分散相分率和静态混合器直径三因素影响,且表观流速的影响最为显著;充分发展后的不均匀系数均达0.05以下,表明静态混合器自身具有较好的分布混合性能。     

静态混合器对PP/MMT纳米复合材料微观形态的影响

以聚丙烯／蒙脱土纳米复合材料(PP／MMT)为原料，在单螺杆挤出装置上，通过连接Kenics静态混合器，研究了静态混合器对PP／MMT微观形态的影响，并用透射电子显微镜(TEM)研究了MMT在PP中分散的形态。结果表明：通过Kenics静态混合器混合后，MMT在基体PP中的分散更加均匀，并出现明显的片层剥离；混沌混合是获取剥离型PP／MMT的有效手段。     

A general correlation for pressure drop in a Kenics static mixer

A new pressure drop correlation in a Kenics static mixer has been developed. Pressure drop data were generated from computational fluid dynamics (CFD) calculations, avoiding the experimental limitations in obtaining comprehensive data enough for developing a reliable pressure drop correlation. Dimensional analysis reveals that the pressure drop characteristic of the Kenics static mixer can be described by three dimensionless groups, i.e., the friction factor, Reynolds number (Re), and aspect ratio of a mixing element (AR). A systematic graphical analysis led to a single master curve governing the pressure drop behavior of the Kenics static mixer, which had never been achieved before. We derived a pressure drop correlation fitting well with the obtained master curve in a general form into which the AR effect on the pressure drop is directly incorporated. Unlike the already existing correlations available in the literature, the correlation proposed in this study can cover the whole range of Re from laminar to turbulence. The reliability of the proposed correlation was validated by the comparison with various pressure drop data reported in the literature.     

氯醇化管道反应新工艺的压降和传质的研究

氯醇化管道反应新工艺是环氧丙烷生产过程中关键步骤，该反应属气液非均相系统，但装有Ｋｅｎｉｃｓ型静态混合构件的管道反应器用于气液系统还缺乏大量的基础数据。研究以Ｎ２－Ｈ２Ｏ２作为实验系统，测定了不同工况下压降和氧含量，并应用一心均相模型救是了相应的摩擦系数和传质系数。     

LAMINAR FLOW HEAT TRANSFER WITH INLINE MIXERS INSERTS

Heat transfer coefficients were measured for heat transfer to a Newtonian fluid flowing in laminar flow through a tube with inline mixer inserts. Kenics “Static” mixer and Ross LPD mixer inserts were studied as heat transfer augmentation devices. The mixer inserts were in the inner tube of a concentric tube heat exchanger. Steam was condensed in the annulus of the exchanger. Significant heat transfer enhancement was obtained with both inserts at the expense of even greater pressure drop increases. The use of the Ross mixer insert gave greater augmentation than did the use of the kenics insert. An analysis using the analogy between momentum and heat transfer allowed the prediction of heat transfer coefficients from pressure drop measurements. The predicted coefficients were in good agreement with experimentally measured heat transfer coefficients for laminar flow.     

Kenics混合器混合性能的模拟研究

利用Fluent有限元分析软件计算了流体流过Kenics混合器过程中的应变速率,进而分析混合元件转速与旋转式Kenics混合器混合效率的关系,以及混合元件与机筒间隙对静态和旋转式Kenics混合器对混合效率的影响。模拟分析结果表明:旋转式Kenics混合器混合效率随转速增加而提高;减小混合元件与机筒间间隙有利于增加静态Kenics混合器混合效率,但间隙的减小对旋转式Kenics混合器混合效率的影响却很小。     

Comparative analysis of different static mixers performance by CFD technique: An innovative mixer

The flow and mixing behavior of two miscible liquids has been studied in an innovative static mixer by using CFD,with Reynolds numbers ranging from 20 to 160. The performance of the new mixer is compared with those of Kenics, SMX, and Komax static mixers. The pressure drop ratio(Z-factor), coefficient of variation(CoV), and extensional efficiency(α) features have been used to evaluate power consumption, distributive mixing, and dispersive mixing performances, respectively, in all mixers. The model is firstly validated based on experimental data measured for the pressure drop ratio and the coefficient of variation. CFD results are consistent with measured data and those obtained by available correlations in the literature. The new mixer shows a superior mixing performance compared to the other mixers.     

Kenics静态混合器的流体力学性能

用激光测速仪(LDV)测定了φ50mm Kenics静态混合器的流场、压力降和液滴平均直径。着重讨论了流量和混合单元数对轴向速度、切向速度和湍流强度的影响,并对静态混合器内液滴粉碎的机理进行了探讨。研究结果对消化吸收引进技术和合理地设计大型静态混合器具有参考价值。     

Kenics型静态混合器内分散相液滴破碎和聚结过程的CFD-PBM数值模拟

采用CFD-PBM耦合方法对Kenics型静态混合器内分散相油滴破碎及聚并行为进行数值模拟研究,分析了雷诺数、混合元件数、元件长径比等参数对分散相液滴粒径的影响,揭示了分散相在Kenics静态混合器内流动过程中液滴粒径的演化规律。结果表明,随雷诺数增大,分散相液滴出口粒径不断减小,并出现临界趋势;静态混合器的前几个元件段粒径下降较快,雷诺数越高,油滴破碎达到稳定粒径所需的流动距离越短,而元件数仅在较低雷诺数下对粒径有明显影响;相同雷诺数下元件的长径比越小,其出口粒径越小,且达到稳定所需流动距离越短。     

Size adjustment of spherical temperature-sensitive hydrogel beads by liquid–liquid dispersion using a Kenics static mixer

Temperature-sensitive hydrogel beads were prepared by Kenics static mixer technology. The temperature-sensitive monomer N,N-diethylacrylamide and photo-crosslinkable pre-polymer ENT were used as model hydrogel materials. Drop dispersion of high viscosity polymer material in low viscosity hexadecane was made using the static mixer. Drops of a solution of the mixed materials were rapidly photo-crosslinked by UV irradiation after mixing in the static mixer, and spherical hydrogel beads with narrow, normal size distribution were thus prepared. The Kenics static mixer is a useful device for the preparation of spherical beads of temperature-sensitive hydrogels. The Sauter Mean Diameter of the hydrogel beads swollen in deionized water at 293 K was measured. The experimentally determined dimensionless swollen hydrogel bead diameter was well correlated with the Weber number, degree of swelling and viscosity ratio. The effects of gelation and ENT addition on the bead size were evaluated from the degree of swelling. The correlation equation can be used for size adjustment of temperature-sensitive spherical hydrogel beads.     

Accurate solution for acceleration motion of a vertically falling spherical particle in incompressible newtonian media

In this paper, the acceleration motion of a vertically falling spherical particle in incompressible Newtonian media was investigated. The instantaneous velocity and acceleration were carried out using analytical solution technique i.e. the differential transformation method (DTM). Using the DTM, the non‐linear constrained governing equations were reduced to recurrence relations and related initial conditions were transformed into a set of algebraic equations. The solutions were subsequently solved by a process of inverse transformation. The results were also compared with those derived from the homotopy perturbation method (HPM), closed‐form solution, the established fourth order Runge–Kutta method and experimental data in order to verify the accuracy of the proposed method. It was found that this method can achieve more accurate results compared with the HPM. © 2012 Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering