Laminar flow and pressure drop of complex fluids in a Sulzer SMX plus ™ static mixer

Static mixers are an effective model system for investigating the effect of fluid rheology on pressure losses in laminar flow. Viscoelastic pressure drop enhancement in real process fluids was investigated using experimental methods and computer simulations of a SMX+(TM) mixer. The results were compared against classical friction factor correlations for non-elastic fluids and literature correlation for elastic fluids (developed using aqueous polymers). CFD predictions of pressure losses for both inelastic and viscoelastic process fluids were consistent with the measurements. The literature correlation for viscoelastic fluids progressively overestimated the friction factor with increasing Reynolds number. The CFD results were analysed to discern the impact of the flow field on laminar mixing. (C) 2022 Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study investigated the viscoelastic pressure drop enhancement in real process fluids using experimental methods and computer simulations with a SMX+(TM) mixer. Comparisons were made against classical friction factor correlations for non-elastic fluids and literature correlations for elastic fluids. CFD predictions for pressure losses were consistent with measurements.