Perturbed turbulent stirred tank flows with amplitude and mode-shape variations

Stirred tank (STR) flows at low and moderate Reynolds numbers show poor mixing behavior due to formation of segregated zones inside which both magnitude and fluctuation level of velocity components show lower values compared to the active fluid regime (i.e., impeller jet stream, circulation loops). Active perturbation of the STR flow using a time-dependent impeller rotational speed can potentially enhance mixing by breaking up these segregated unmixed zones and enhancing the turbulence level throughout the tank volume. In the present study, the effect of different perturbation cycles on an unbaffled turbulent stirred tank flow at a moderate Reynolds number (rotational speed N=3 rps) is studied using a large-eddy simulation (LES) technique coupled with immersed boundary method (IBM). The perturbation frequency (f) is chosen to correspond to a dominant macro-instability in the flow (f/N=0.022). Two different perturbation amplitudes (20% and 66%) and two perturbation shapes (square-wave and sine-wave) are investigated, and changes in the mean flow field, turbulence level and impeller jet spreading are examined. Large-scale periodic velocity fluctuations due to perturbations are noticed to produce large strain rates favoring higher turbulence levels inside the tank. Production of turbulent kinetic energy due to both the mean and periodic component of the velocity field is presented. Fluctuations in power consumption due to perturbation are also calculated, and shown to correlate with the perturbation amplitude. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.