Mixing tank hydrodynamics and mixing efficiency for propeller impellers

In this study, the distribution of axial and radial velocities with the use of a PIV laser system was determined and the mixing power in a mixing tank with narrow and wide propeller impellers was measured. The pumping capacity and secondary circulation values in the mixing tank were calculated and on this basis, the energy efficiency of the operation of both types of propeller impellers was determined and compared with the efficiency of turbine impellers with inclined blades. It turned out that propeller impellers with wide blades are most effective as regards the amount of energy that should be supplied to the mixing tank to achieve the required mixing time. It was found that the share of pumping capacity in the total secondary circulation is almost twice as high as the share of induced circulation. Correlation equations for the dependence of the mixing power and dimensionless flow numbers on the pitch of the propeller blade were also formulated. All the results obtained were compared with the works of other authors. The paper also found that propeller impellers with a variable angle of inclination of the blade alpha depending on the current radius do not meet the theoretical assumption of a constant axial velocity of the liquid flowing out from of the impeller zone. For small radii of the impeller the explanation for this observation is the presence of the hub and shaft in the axis of the mixer and the effect of liquid slip for the steep agitator blades near the hub. For radii close to the radius of the stirrer, the reason is generation of induced circulation as the expense of the kinetic energy of the liquid flowing out of the impeller area. (c) 2023 Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study used a PIV laser system to analyze the distribution of velocities and mixing power in a mixing tank with narrow and wide propeller impellers. The results showed that propeller impellers with wide blades were the most efficient in terms of energy consumption for achieving the desired mixing time. Additionally, the share of pumping capacity in the total secondary circulation was found to be almost double that of induced circulation.