Gas/liquid dispersions with a SMX static mixer in the laminar regime

A Sulzer SMX mixer was used to disperse gas into viscous, Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids. The investigation covered the effect of the dispersed phase volume fraction, the viscosity of the continuous phase, the mixer length and the power draw. The flow regime was kept laminar in all the experiments. The dispersion of gas was carried out with gas concentrations between 1% and 7% in volume. Using the “process viscosity” concept, it was possible to collapse all the measured sizes on a single master curve by using the energy consumption in the mixer as the common variable between the experiments. Comparison was made with a Kenics mixer. The SMX mixer was found to be better adapted to the dispersion task due to its internal structure.     

Drop Breakup in an SMX Static Mixer in Laminar Flow

The mechanism of drop breakup inside SMX static mixers in the laminar flow regime was studied using experimental observations and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The deformation and breakup of a single drop was simulated using the volume of fluid (VOF) model. It was observed that drops break up after collision with the leading edges and cross‐points of the bars in the SMX static mixer. It was found that drop collision with the bar cross‐points of the SMX static mixer elements is most effective for drop breakup. Elongation and folding result in drop breakup at the cross‐points.     

3D hydrodynamics involving multiple eccentric impellers in unbaffled cylindrical tank

In this paper, the numerical predictions of 3D hydrodynamics and power consumption in a vessel stirred by mul-tiple eccentrical y located impel ers are presented. The vessel is a flat-bottomed cylindrical one equipped with six-curved bladed impel ers. Aqueous solutions of xanthan gum are used, which have a shear thinning behavior with yield stress. The influence of several parameters on the mixing efficiency has been investigated, namely:the stirring rate, fluid rheology, impeller number and impeller clearance from the tank bottom. Our predicted results are compared with other experimental data and a satisfactory agreement is found.     

Using electrical resistance tomography and computational fluid dynamics modeling to study the formation of cavern in the mixing of pseudoplastic fluids possessing yield stress

Electrical resistance tomography (ERT) provides a non-intrusive technique to examine, in three dimensions, the homogeneity and flow pattern inside the mixing tank. In this study, a 4-plane 16-sensor ring ERT system was employed to study the shape and the size of cavern generated around a radial-flow Scaba 6SRGT impeller in the mixing of xanthan gum solution, which is a pseudoplastic fluid possessing yield stress. The size of cavern measured using ERT was in good agreement with that calculated using Elson's model (cylindrical model). The 3D flow field generated by the impeller in the agitation of xanthan gum was also simulated using the commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) package (Fluent). The CFD model provided useful information regarding the impeller pumping capacity, flow pattern, and the formation of cavern around the impeller. CFD results showed good agreement with the experimental data and theory.     

Computational-fluid-dynamics study of a Kenics static mixer as a heat exchanger for supercritical carbon dioxide

The thermal efficiency of a Kenics^® KM static mixer used to pre-heat supercritical carbon dioxide, under high pressure conditions, is studied using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). A mesh sensitivity analysis is performed and the CFD model is validated against experimental results on heat transfer with conventional and supercritical fluids. Three turbulent models - standard k-?, RNG k-?, and k-ω - are employed to model the flow and heat transfer under high pressure conditions; the effects of large variations of the physical properties in the pseudo-critical region of the fluid are also studied. The RNG k-? model gives results that are closer to the experimental data than the other two turbulence models. The numerical results show that the static mixer has a thermal efficiency more than three times higher than that of a conventional empty pipe heat exchanger with similar heat transfer area.     

Design of multiple impeller stirred tanks for the mixing of highly viscous fluids using CFD

The effect of multiple Intermig impeller configuration on hydrodynamics and mixing performance in a stirred tank has been investigated using computational fluid dynamics. Connection between impeller stages and compartmentalisation has been assessed using Lagrangian particle tracking. The results show that by a rotating the Intermig impeller by 45^° with respect to its neighbours, instead of a 90^° rotation as recommended by manufacturers, enables a wider range of operating conditions, i.e., lower Reynolds number flows, can be handled. Furthermore by slightly decreasing the distance between the lower two impellers, fluid exchange between the impellers is ensured down to Re=27.     

Laminar flow of power-law fluids in the entrance region of a pipe

The study is concerned with developing laminar flow of a power-law fluid in a circular tube. The analysis extends the filled-region concept, used previously to study Newtonian fluid flow, to the more general class of power-law fluids. Flow is analyzed in both the inlet and filled regions using an integral boundary layer method. Results obtained provide the lengths of the entrance, inlet and filled regions as a function of the generalized Reynolds number and the power-law fluid index. In addition, the variations of the local friction factor, the pressure drop and the centerline velocity along the axial coordinate are also provided. The available models are compared with the present one on the basis of experimental data. The present results are found to reach asymptotically the fully developed values, and also to be in good agreement with all available experimental data.     

Effect of swirling addition on the liquid mixing performance in a T-jets mixer

Swirling addition to the stream is beneficial for the fluid mixing. This work aims to study the mixing process intensification in a conventional T-jets mixer by the swirling addition. After experimental verification by the planar laser-induced fluorescence technique, large eddy simulation with the dynamic kinetic energy sub-grid stress model is used to predict how the swirling strength (in terms of swirling number, S_w) and swirling directions affect the mixing performance, e.g. the tracer concentration distribution, mixing time, and turbulent characteristics in the T-jets mixers. Predictions show that the swirling strength is the key factor affecting the mixing efficiency of the process. The overall mixing time, τ₉₀, can be significantly reduced by increasing S_w. Vortex analysis shows that more turbulent eddies appear in the collision zone and the turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rate increases obviously with the swirling addition. When S_w is kept constant, the mixing process can be accelerated and intensified by adding swirling to only one stream, to both streams with the opposite swirling directions, or to both streams with the same swirling directions. Amplification of the mixing process by enlarging the mixer size or increasing the flow rates is also optimized. Thus, this work provides a new strategy to improve the mixing performance of the traditional T-jets mixers by the swirling addition.     

高黏度流体在SK型静态混合器内的流动特性

根据流体动力学、非线性动力学及Ottino理论,建立了高黏度流体在SK型静态混合器内的流体流动改进模型,分析二维Navier-Stokes方程基于双极坐标系下流函数形式的边值问题并建立了相应的流体微分运动方程。用Poincare映射方法对静态混合器内的蠕动流的动力学行为进行了数值仿真研究。给出了系统响应随管壁转动角频率变化的分岔图、最大Lyapunov指数曲线图、典型的Poincare截面图和相图。结论表明:高黏度流体在SK型静态混合器内轴截面的径向流动存在混沌特性。     

Axial mixing in a ploughshare mixer

Motion is studied within a bladed 5 l ploughshare mixer for granular solids at two rotor frequencies, 2 Hz and 4 Hz, for fill levels between 12.5% and 70%. Positron emission particle tracking is used to follow the motion of a single radioactive tracer. Particles circulate around the bed in the transaxial plane in the direction of blade rotation. Axial motion perpendicular to this plane is significantly less and is largely contained in the region between the planes of rotation of adjacent blades. Axial mixing between these inter-plough regions is determined by calculating the transport rate across these planes. Transport is greater at 4 Hz than at 2 Hz, but decreases as fill level increases. Axial transport is further studied by recording the location of the tracer as it crosses each plane of blade rotation. These passages can be described as occurring either; (i), in defined regions of the bed; or (ii), by leading or lagging the blades by a constant angle. A transition from (i) to (ii) occurs as fill level increases. At 4 Hz or with oily rice, the transition occurs at lower fill levels.     

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.     

Pressure drop and mixing behaviour of non‐Newtonian fluids in a static mixing unit

Static or motionless mixers have received wide application in chemical and allied industries due to their low cost and high efficiency. The pressure drop and mixing behaviour of such mixers have been widely studied. However, the available information for non‐Newtonian fluids is scanty. The results of pressure drop and mixing studies conducted with a locally made motionless mixer (MALAVIYA mixer) and four non‐Newtonian fluids—aq. CMC, PVA, and PEG solutions are reported in this article. The new mixer causes less pressure drop compared to some of the commercial mixers. Mixing behaviour of the unit is more closer to plug flow and a two‐parameter model correlates the dispersion data.     

拉伸流动静态混合器混合性能的实验研究

设计了1种能够增强聚合物混合效果的拉伸流动静态混合器（EFM）,以高密度聚乙烯/聚苯乙烯（PE⁃HD/PS）作为混合体系,根据共混体系扫描电子显微镜（SEM）照片及分散相的平均粒径,研究了不同盘形结构和不同盘棱间隙（δ）（0.125~2.0 mm）下EFM的混合性能。结果表明,EFM的盘形入口结构对其混合性能影响较小,混合能力随盘棱顶端圆角半径的增大而有所提升,随δ的增大出现先降低再升高又降低的变化趋势。     

Numerical investigation of blade shape in static mixing

The mixing performance of the KMX and SMX static mixers have been compared using 3D high-resolution computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. Although these mixers have a similar design composed of layers of blades, their blade shape is different: curved for the KMX and flat for the SMX. The flow of a Newtonian fluid in steady laminar regime has been considered as the benchmark of the study. The simulation was first validated by assessing the pressure drop vs. the number of mixer elements and the results were found to be in good agreement with experimental data. To evaluate the mixing quality, cross-section stream function, extensional efficiency, mean shear rate, residence time, intensity of segregation, stretching, and Lyapunov exponent have been selected. Analysis of the flow pattern and mixing parameters shows differences between the mixers and it appears that the curved blade is more efficient than the flat blade design at the expense of a slightly higher pressure drop. In practice, the KMX mixer should provide a higher mixing rate at high viscosity ratio than the SMX mixer. © 2004 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 51: 44–58, 2005     

Power demand and mixing performance of coaxial mixers in a stirred tank with CMC solution

Experimental investigation was carried out in an el iptical based stirred tank with a diameter of 0.48 m to explore the power demand and mixing performance of coaxial mixers. Syrup and CMC solution (sodium carboxy methyl cellulose) were used as the Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids, respectively. Four different coaxial mixers were combined with either CBY or Pfaudler impeller as the inner one, and anchor or helical ribbon (HR) as the outer one. Results show that Pfaudler-HR is the optimized combination among four coaxial mixers in this work, which provides the shortest mixing time given the same power consumption. Compared with the syrup solution, the increase of power input can make the mixing time decreasing more obviously in the CMC solution. The quantitative correlations for both syrup and CMC solutions were established to calculate the power draw and the mixing time of four coaxial mixers.     

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.     

Experimental evaluation of gas mixing with a static microstructure mixer

Mixing plays an important role in chemical reaction engineering. In the last years several types of static microstructure mixers have been developed. The characterization of microstructure mixing is difficult to perform as the dimensions are too small for conventional methods. Therefore, we report a method to characterize the mixing of two gases directly by measuring the concentration of the gases at the outlet of the mixer. The experiments have been carried out up to gas flows of 5000 ml/min STP per passage. The mixing degree and mixing length were determined as well as the mixing time was calculated. These values depend on the properties of the gases and other parameters as temperature and gas velocity. Thus complete mixing is achieved after a mixing length, i.e., the distance to the microchannel outlet, of only 300-800 μm. Corresponding mixing times are just 100-600 μs. Furthermore, discontinuities in the mixing characteristic can be explained with the results obtained. Also design parameters for a further improvement of the mixer geometry individually for various applications could be set up.     

仿柳叶形静态混合器的流动及混合特性

对仿柳叶形静态混合器内混合气流进行了速度场与浓度场的试验研究,结果表明该混合器内速度场与浓度场偏差均达到了非常理想的效果（优于国家标准偏差值）。同时采用CFD软件对该静态混合器内的流场进行了数值模拟,试验与模拟的数值结果以及两者的浓度云图分布都有着较好的一致性。随后的研究结果表明：在混合元件尾迹区域出现了纵向涡和发卡涡来促进混合;在经过混合元件区域时因为湍流动能耗散率增加形成的高湍流动能耗散率区能够使物质交换更加频繁;整个静态混合器的流动阻力也主要发生在该区域,随之出现的返混现象也在一定程度上加强了混合效果。     

High‐Throughput T‐Jets Mixers: An Innovative Scale‐Up Concept

The influence of geometrical and design parameters of T‐jets mixers on flow dynamics and mixing patterns is studied by means of two‐dimensional computational fluid dynamics simulations, planar laser‐induced fluorescence, and test chemical reactions. The ratios between injector width and mixing chamber width and between width and depth of the mixing chamber were evaluated as parameters. These ratios determine the flow regime in T‐jets mixers: high values of injector/chamber width ratio favor mixing and high depth values also increase the flow dynamics and thus mixing. A strategy for scale‐up of T‐jets mixers is devised, based on increasing a noncritical dimension (depth) while keeping other dimensions small.