Characterization on the hydrodynamics of a covering-plate Rushton impeller

A modified Rushton impeller with two circular covering-plates mounted on the upper and lower sides of the blades was designed. There are gaps between the plates and the blades. The turbulent hydrodynamics was analyzed by the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method. Firstly, the reliability of the numerical model and simulation method was verified by comparing with the experimental results from literature. Subsequently, the power consumption, flow pattern, mean velocity and mixing time of the covering-plate Rushton impeller (RT-C) were studied and compared with the standard Rushton impeller (RT) operated under the same conditions. Results show that the power consumption can be decreased about 18%. Compared with the almost unchanged flow field in the lower stirred tank, the mean velocity was increased at the upper half of the stirred tank. And in the impeller region, the mean axial and radial velocities were increased, the mean tangential velocity was decreased. In addition, the average mixing time of RT-C was shortened about 4.14% than the counterpart of RT. The conclusions obtained here indicated that RT-C has a more effective mixing performance and it can be used as an alternative of RT in the process industries.     

搅拌生物反应器的循环时间分布和混合结构模型

利用磁粒子流动跟踪法对搅拌生物反应器的循环时间分布进行测定,并将Rushton径向流桨和两种新型轴向流桨在不同介质粘度和转速下的循环时间分布进行比较和性能评价。建立了单桨搅拌生物反应器的混合结构模型,对循环时间分布数据进行拟合,求得模型参数,进而讨论了不同实验条件下模型参数的变化。结果表明,对于非牛顿、高粘度发酵过程,轴向流桨比Rushton桨具有更好的混合特性。     

Numerical Investigation of the Effect of Impeller Design Parameters on the Performance of a Multiphase Baffle‐Stirred Reactor

The turbulent gas‐liquid flow field in an industrial 100‐m³ stirred tank was calculated by using computational fluid dynamics based on the finite‐volume method. Turbulent effects were modeled with the shear stress transport model, and gas‐liquid bubbly flow was modeled with the Eulerian‐Eulerian approach using the Grace correlation for the drag force interphase momentum transfer. The relative motion between the rotating impeller and the stationary baffled tank was considered by using a multiple frames of reference algorithm. The effects of Rushton and pitched‐blade impeller design parameters such as blade geometry, location, and pumping direction on the mixing performance were investigated. It was found that a combination of Rushton turbines with up‐pumping pitched‐blade turbines provides the best mixing performance in terms of gas holdup and interfacial area density. The approach outlined in this work is useful for performance optimization of biotechnology reactors, as typically found in fermentation processes.     

一种高效的双流道自吸气叶轮搅拌器(下)

对高效自吸气叶轮在长搅拌罐高位处向下喷射气液流的现象进行了实验研究。实验发现，搅拌器混合时间大大缩短，罐内传质均匀，叶轮兼具径流式和轴流式叶轮的优点。和十二叶Ｒｕｓｈ－ｔｏｎ透平及它在低位时的情况相比，比传质系数在１１７０～１７５０ｒ／ｍｉｎ范围内是十二叶Ｒｕｓｈｔｏｎ透平的１．９７～２．７４倍，是它在低位时的１．３３～２．０８倍。利用三维气泡运动方程分析了气泡的运动轨迹及下沉深度，计算结果和实验观测值基本相符。     

Gas-liquid hydrodynamics in a vessel stirred by dual dislocated-blade Rushton impellers☆

Towards the objective of improving the gas dispersion performance, the dislocated-blade Rushton impeller was applied to the gas–liquid mixing in a baffled stirred vessel. The flow field, gas hold-up, dissolved oxygen, power consumption before and after gassing were studied using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technique. Dispersion of gas in the liquid was modelled using the Eulerian–Eulerian approach along with the dispersed k–εturbulent model. Rotation of the impeller was simulated with the multiple reference frame method. A modified drag coefficient which includes the effect of turbulence was used to account for the momentum exchange. The predictions were compared with their counterparts of the standard Rushton impeller and were validated with the experimental results. It is concluded that the dislocated-blade Rushton impeller is superior to the standard Rushton impeller in the gas–liquid mixing operation, and the findings obtained here lay the basis of its application in process industries.     

Flow,suspension and mixing dynamics in DASGIP bioreactors,Part 2

This work aims to characterize the mixing and suspension dynamics occurring within two commercially available DASGIP bioreactor configurations, equipped with a two-blade paddle impeller with large impeller to tank diameter ratio, D/T = 0.97. Both continuous and intermittent agitation modes were employed to determine the impact that agitation strategy has upon mass transfer and microcarrier settling/suspension. This paper builds upon the flow dynamics data presented in Part 1 for a flat bottom DASGIP bioreactor and shows how intermittent agitation can break-up regions of slow mixing observed during continuous agitation, therefore substantially increasing the mixing efficiency of the system. Similarly, it was found that microcarrier characteristics might significantly affect the level of suspension when the impeller is in dwell status when intermittent agitation modes are used.     

刚柔组合搅拌桨与刚性桨调控流场结构的对比

高黏度流体处于层流状态时,普遍存在的混合隔离区,降低了流体的混合效率。减小或消除隔离区,是实现流体高效混合的基本途径。采用实验研究与数值模拟相结合的方法,对刚性六直叶涡轮桨（刚性桨）和刚柔组合六直叶涡轮桨（组合桨）的流场结构进行研究,对比分析了两种桨叶在相同功耗（3 kW·m^-3）时的轴向、径向和切向的速度矢量图、速度云图以及速度分布散点图。结果表明,刚性桨的能量集中在桨叶尖端部分,远离桨叶区域的流体速度很小甚至为0 m·s^-1;而组合桨可将能量从桨叶尖端扩散至全槽,使槽内流体均具有一定的流速,提高了混合效率,且显色实验与数值模拟结果一致,组合桨体系的混合隔离区在短时间内就可消除,混合良好,而刚性桨体系的混合隔离区始终存在,混合效果不佳。     

Experimental and computational fluid dynamic (CFD) studies on mixing characteristics of a modified helical ribbon impeller

Experimental and computational fluid dynamic (CFD) modeling studies have been performed on mixing characteristics of a new modified helical ribbon impeller in a viscous medium. A novel arrangement for the multiple reference frame (MRF) technique was proposed and the modeling results were compared with those of conventional MRF selecting method. Calculations were performed to study the effects of several parameters: axial flow number, axial circulation time, impeller clearance, and power consumption. The higher performance of the modified impeller has been proven in terms of axial flow number and axial circulation time. The results showed that significant improvement in mixing performance can be obtained at a higher impeller clearance with the modified impeller employed. In addition, the power consumption by the new impeller has been compared with that of the classic one. The CFD-predicted flow patterns generated by the impellers were used to explain the higher performance of the modified impeller. In addition, the results reveal that the CFD-predicted particle volume fractions at various axial distances from the tank bottom are reasonably in agreement with the experimental observations.     

几种框式桨搅拌槽内流动特性的比较研究

用粒子成像测速（PIV）技术对传统框式桨、传统框式组合桨和新型框式组合桨的流动特性进行研究,对比了三种框式桨在相同工况下搅拌槽内的速度、流型和湍动能。结果表明：传统框式桨搅拌槽内流体流动以水平环流为主,在框式桨上方和框式桨中间区域流体流动不充分;传统框式组合桨搅拌槽内框式桨上方由于二折叶桨的作用使得框式桨上部流体流速变大,槽内流体上下部的流动得到加强,但在框式桨中心区域依旧存在流动死区;新型框式组合桨搅拌槽内两层桨叶间的连接流得到了加强,框式桨底部和中间区域物质和能量的交换更加充分。在考察的三种框式桨中,新型框式组合桨的混合效果更好。研究结果可为新型框式组合桨应用于化工合成工业中提供参考。     

一种计算搅拌槽混合时间的新方法

基于对混合时间定义的思考,提出了一种新的定义方法,在湍流流场数值计算的基础上通过求解示踪剂的浓度输运方程,研究了单层涡轮桨搅拌槽内的混合过程。结果表明：搅拌转速和搅拌桨安装位置都影响混合时间的大小,而进料位置对混合时间的影响不大。对于不同的搅拌转速而言,随搅拌转速的增大,相同体积分数对应的混合时间逐渐减小。当搅拌桨安装在槽中间位置时所对应的混合时间最小。利用适宜的尺寸和安装位置的导流筒可有效降低混合时间。     

最大叶片式桨在假塑性流体中的搅拌流场模拟

为研究最大叶片式桨在高黏假塑性流体中的搅拌流动行为,以黄原胶溶液为研究体系,采用计算流体力学方法重点研究了釜内流体的功耗特性、速率分布、剪切速率、表观黏度分布和总体流动状况。结果表明:最大叶片式桨具有与大多数径流桨相似的"双循环"流型结构,且预测的功耗特性与实验数据一致性良好。最大叶片式桨适用于高黏假塑性流体的混合,而对于高黏牛顿流体的混合则效果不佳。釜内的剪切速率分布较宽泛,且受转速影响较大。转速可作为该桨改善黄原胶体系混合效率的重要参数之一。     

Simulation of computational fluid dynamics and comparison of cephalosporin C fermentation performance with different impeller combinations

Cephalosporin C (CPC) fermentation by Acremonium chrysogenum is an extremely high oxygen-consuming process and oxygen transfer rate in a bioreactor directly affects fermentation performance. In this study, fluid dynamics and oxygen transfer in a 7 L bioreactor with different impellers combinations were simulated by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model. Based on the simulation results, two impeller combinations with higher oxygen transfer rate (K _L a) were selected to conduct CPC fermentations, aiming at achieving high CPC concentration and low accumulation of major by-product, deacetoxycephalosporin (DAOC). It was found that an impeller combination with a higher K _L a and moderate shear force is the prerequisite for efficient CPC production in a stirred bioreactor. The best impeller combination, which installed a six-bladed turbine and a four-pitched-blade turbine at bottom and upper layers but with a shortened impellers inter-distance, produced the highest CPC concentration of 35.77 g/L and lowest DAOC/CPC ratio of 0.5%.     

用CFD研究搅拌槽内的混合过程

在CFX软件的基础上开发了用于混合过程计算的程序,并在流动场计算的基础上对单层涡轮桨搅拌槽内的混合过程进行了初步的数值研究.对速度场和浓度场联立求解与单独求解两种处理方法分别进行了计算,计算得到的浓度响应曲线与文献数据趋势一致,两种方法计算的混合时间变化规律一致,联立求解计算得到的混合时间略小于单独求解,但是联立求解的计算量非常大.计算结果表明：混合过程与计算采用的流动场密切相关;混合时间大小不仅与监测点位置有关,还与加料位置有关,在搅拌桨附近加料混合时间最小,在槽底部加料混合时间最大.     

CFD Investigation of the Mixing of Yield‐Pseudoplastic Fluids with Anchor Impellers

The study was carried out to simulate the 3D flow domain in the mixing of pseudoplastic fluids possessing yield stress with anchor impellers, using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) package. The multiple reference frames (MRF) technique was employed to model the rotation of the impellers. The rheology of the fluid was approximated using the Herschel–Bulkley model. To validate the model, the CFD results for the power consumption were compared to the experimental data. After the flow fields were calculated, the simulations for tracer homogenization were performed to simulate the mixing time. The effects of impeller speed, fluid rheology, and impeller geometry on power consumption, mixing time, and flow pattern were explored. The optimum values of c/D (impeller clearance to tank diameter) and w/D (impeller blade width to tank diameter) ratios were determined on the basis of minimum mixing time.     

搅拌槽内近桨区流动场的数值研究

利用滑移网格方法，采用三种不同密度的网格，计算了六直叶涡轮搅拌桨的三维流动场。利用数值方法得到了桨叶附近流动场中产生的尾涡，并将不同密度网格下的数值模拟结果与实验数据进行了比较。计算结果表明，在高密度的网格下可以清楚地观察到桨叶附近所产生的尾涡，其大小与实验结果一致，但尾涡衰减较快：叶端的径向与切向速度分布与实验值吻合较好，加密网格对最大径向及切向速度的预测精度有明显提高；即使采用很高的网格密度，对湍流动能的预测仍然偏低。     

纤维素酶水解反应器的开发与放大

以木质纤维素生产燃料乙醇为背景,在考察玉米秸秆同步糖化与发酵反应特征基础上,给出了合适的反应器构型:螺带型搅拌槽;直径0.2～0.8m,高径比1～2,转速20～120r/min,着重从冷模实验对搅拌槽性能进行了考察,为反应器放大提供必要的基础。实验结果发现,层流流动条件下,随流体剪切稀化性质增强,搅拌功率(Np)显著降低,而无因次混合时间(Ntm)则变化不大;给出适用于强剪切稀化流体的Metzner常数Ks关联式,且Ks与搅拌槽直径无关;对于几何相似的螺带桨,随着搅拌槽直径增大,若保持相同的单位体积功率,Ntm是相同的,这为我们提供了一个螺带型搅拌槽的放大准则;搅拌槽功耗及Ntm随着搅拌槽高径比的增大而增大;最后采用数值计算方法对搅拌槽内分散混合效率进行了考察,发现,根据混合效率的不同,可将螺带型搅拌槽分成几个不同的区域,搅拌槽内体积平均分散混合效率接近于0.5(简单剪切流)。纤维素酶水解反应器的放大,小试给出关键参数(单位体积生产能力),冷模实验提供混合性能、几何结构设计基础,经验判据与CFD相结合,关注基本流型的尺寸效应,兼顾单位体积功率及最大剪切速率。     

Investigation of laminar flow in a stirred vessel at low Reynolds numbers

Many mixing applications involve viscous fluids and laminar flows where the detailed as well as overall flow structures are important. In order to understand the fluid dynamic characteristics of low Re laminar flows in mixing vessels, the flow induced by a Rushton impeller for three Re namely, 1, 10 and 28, was studied both experimentally and computationally. It was found that for the highest Re, the flow exhibited the familiar outward pumping action associated with radial impellers under turbulent flow conditions. However, as the Re decreases, the net radial flow during one impeller revolution was reduced and for the lowest Re a reciprocating motion with negligible net pumping was observed. This behaviour has not been reported in the literature in the past and represents a highly undesirable flow pattern from the standpoint of effective mixing. The CFD results successfully reproduced this behaviour. In order to elucidate the physical mechanism responsible for the observed flow pattern, the forces acting on a fluid element in the radial direction were analysed. The analysis indicated that for the lowest Re, the material derivative of radial velocity near the blade tip is small thus a balance exists between pressure and viscous forces; the defining characteristic of creeping flow. The velocity and pressure forces are in phase because the velocity is driven by the pressure field generated by the rotation of the impeller. Based on these findings, a simplified analytic model of the flow was developed that gives a good qualitative as well as quantitative representation of the flow.     

双层涡轮桨搅拌反应器内混合时间的大涡模拟

采用计算流体力学(CFD)方法对直径为0.476m双层涡轮桨搅拌反应器内的流动及混合进行了数值模拟,并实验测试了混合过程。利用大涡模拟(LES)及Smagorinsky-Lilly亚格子模型求解湍流流动与示踪剂传递过程,桨叶区域采用滑移网格技术。研究结果表明,大涡模拟得到的示踪剂响应曲线和混合时间与实验结果吻合良好,其预测精度明显优于基于雷诺平均(Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes,RANS)的标准k-ε模型的模拟结果。大涡模拟是研究搅拌反应器内非稳态及周期性湍流流动的有效方法。     

搅拌槽内粘稠物系中气液相间氧传递

以发酵罐中气液相间氧传递为背景，考察了搅拌槽内搅拌器形式、物系流变性质、通气搅拌操作条件等对假塑性粘稠物系中氧传递过程的影响。结果表明，这些因素主要通过改变气体分散状态和相间传质面积来影响氧传递速率。根据气泡在搅拌槽内不均匀分布现象，多层搅拌下气液相间传质过程可以用气泡运动分区分布模型来描述。它说明了采用轴向流桨和涡轮桨组合的搅拌形式在氧传递方面的优越性，为强化发酵罐中供氧指明一条有效途径     

柔性Rushton搅拌桨混合性能的实验研究

提高混合效率是流体搅拌混合领域的重点研究内容之一。几十年来,人们在开发新型搅拌桨及研发流体混合新技术方面做了大量工作。基于刚性Rushton桨,开发了一种柔性叶片Rushton搅拌桨,并以罗丹明6G为荧光剂,采用平面激光诱导荧光法对介质为水时该桨在湍流状态下的混合性能进行了实验测试研究。结果发现,标定实验结果表明,荧光剂强度与浓度呈线性关系,可以此为基准衡量同等实验条件下的宏观混合时间。荧光剂的扩散情况表明,与刚性桨相比,柔性桨具有更好的混合性能,尤其在混合的初始阶段,混合均匀程度及混合速度均有一定的优势。与刚性桨混合时间的对比表明,柔性桨的宏观混合时间较短,有助于提高流体混合效率。研究结果为该桨的工业应用奠定了基础。