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Mixing Quantities

Daniel Ribeiro
Outline


Power number/torque

Mixing time/residence time

Turbulent quantities

Reaction yield

Flow field details
Symbols


Fluid density, ρ (kg/m3)

Fluid viscosity, ν (kg/ms)

Impeller diameter, D (m)

Rotational speed, N (rad/s)

Tank diameter, T (m)

Impeller width, W (m)

Fluid depth, H (m)

Impeller power requirement, P (W)
Power Number


Impeller power requirement represents the
rate of energy dissipated within the fluid.

Power number
P ρND 2 N 2 D T W H
= fn( , , , , , etc )
ρN D
3 5
µ g D D D

Where
P
ρN 3 D 5
is the Power number, Po

ρND 2
is the Reynolds number, Re
µ

N 2D
is the Froude number, Fr
g
Power Number


In the case where the Froude number effect
can be neglected (gross vortexing non-
existent), Power number

Po = fn(Re, geometrical ratios)

For geometrically similar systems:

Po = fn(Re)
Project variables – dimensionless numbers


Reynolds

Used to identify flow regime

– In mixture systems, Reynolds number is defined as following:


D = Impeller diameter

N = Impeller system rotation (in RPS)

– Reynolds number is viscosity-dependent for small values → Viscous


forces are predominant
– In high Reynolds number, density is the mainly factor → Inertial forces
are predominant
Re < 10, Laminar regime
10 < Re < 10.000, Transition regime
10.000 < Re , Turbulent regime
Projects variable – dimensioless numbers


Froude number

Includes gravitational forces that act over the system,
and normally is uded tpo evaluate free surfaces effects
and central vortices often found in system without
baffles

D = Impeller diameter

N = Impeller system rotation (in RPS)

g = gravity acceleration
Projects variable – dimensioless numbers
● Pumping number
● Pumping is defined as the impeller capacity in
moving the fluid, relating the flow generated to the
impeller are

Q

Bo= 3
ND
Power Curve

Po = kp/Re

Po = Constant, C

log(Po)

laminar transitional turbulent

log(Re)
Power Curve


At low Reynolds number, less than 10, a
laminar regime exists and flow is dominated
by viscous forces
● Po = Kp/Re
● where Kp is a constant depending only upon
the system geometry.

At high Reynolds number, greater than 104,
the flow is turbulent and mixing is rapid due
to the motion of turbulent eddies.

Po = C

In between, there exists a transition regime in
which no simple mathematical expression
exists.
Power Requirement


The electrical power required to drive the
motor will exceed impeller power requirement
by the motor, gearbox and bearing losses.

Power curve is system specific and only
appropriate for single phase fluid and should
be used with caution.

For scale up applications, dynamic similarity
comes from the power number.
Mixing Time


The mixing time is the time measured from
the instant of addition of ‘tracer material’ until
the tank contents have reached a specified
degree of uniformity.
art nec noc r ecart

add tracer time mixing time


Mixing Time


Experimental techniques

Acid/base/indicator reactions

Electrical conductivity variations

Temperature variations

Refractive index variations

Light-sorption techniques

Factors need to be considered:

The manner of tracer addition

The position and number of recording points

The sample volume of detection system

The criterion adopted for deciding the cut-off point of the
end of experiment
Mixing Time


In order to eliminate the influence of the
position and number of detectors, at any time,
the concentration variance, σ2 can be
calculated:
σ2

2
1 n
σ =
2

n − 1 i =0
(Ci − C∞ )
oit art nec noc

time mixing time


Typical Qualitative Results for a Mixing Time Calculation
Results Forming the Basis of a Quantitative Calculation

0.25 s 0.50 s 0.75 s 1.25 s 1.75 s 2.25 s 2.75 s 3.25 s


Validation of Mixing Time Calculation


CFX: The mixing time
Validation CFX vs. Experiement was determined from the
variance of the
45
40
concentration in the
Experiment
35 vessel.
Mixing Time (sec)

CFX-4
30 ●
Experiment: The mixing
25 time was determined
20
from an acid-base colour
15
10
change reaction. (‘Mixing
5 Times in Stirred
0 Suspensions’, Kraume,
0 500 1000 1500 Chemical Engineering
Impeller Speed (RPM) Technology, pp.313-318,
vol 15, 1992)
Other Quantities of Interest


Turbulent kinetic energy

Indication of turbulent mixing intensity

Shear stress/shear rate

Flow field details

Regions of poor mixing
– Stagnation region

Effect of baffles
– Change of flow path

Optimum location for draft tubes
– Location of good mixing
Summary


Power input

Mixing time

Turbulent quantities

Shear rate

Flow field details

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