Single and two-phase flows in a horizontal pipe with a Kenics static mixer: Effect of pressure drop on mixing

Single and two-phase flows pressure drops through a Kenics static mixer were investigated, for liquid and gas Reynolds numbers ranging from 8110 < Re-L < 18 940 to 1730 < Re-G < 8680, respectively. New friction factor correlations were established for single and two-phase flows, showing better agreement than those available in the literature. Dissipated energy and characteristic time constants were estimated from experimental data. For instance, a dissipated energy with a maximum value of 510 W/kg was calculated in two-phase flow with the drift-flux model. The dispersed phase reduced the characteristic mixing times and its influence was more important than the continuous phase for all the characteristic mixing time investigated. Furthermore, the macroscopic characteristic mixing time was shown to be the governing mixing process for almost all gas and liquid flow rates explored.

Automated summary

This study investigates the pressure drops through a Kenics static mixer for single and two-phase flows, and establishes new friction factor correlations. The influence of the dispersed phase on the characteristic mixing time is found to be more important than that of the continuous phase.