Investigation on Solid Particles and Pseudoplastic Fluid Mixing Characteristics in a Dislocated Self-Similarity Impeller Stirred Reactor

A dislocated self-similarity impeller (DS impeller) wasintroducedin the solid particles and pseudoplastic fluid mixing process. Theinvestigation on the mixing performance of a dislocated pitched-bladeimpeller (DPB impeller) and a DS impeller was conducted by applyingexperimental and computational fluid dynamics simulation. Resultsshowed that the DS impeller could enlarge cavern zones and improvethe uniformity of solid particle distribution compared with the DPBimpeller at an equivalent power consumption (P),and these effects could be further enhanced by increasing the self-similariteration number of the DS impeller. Meanwhile, the DS impeller coulddecompose trailing vortices into smaller ones, destroy the recirculationzone, consume less power consumption (P), and decreasethe power number (N (p)) through the self-similarstructure design of impeller blades, and the impeller energy utilizationrate of the DS impeller could be improved by increasing the self-similariteration number. The DS-2 impeller reduced about 40.56 and 13.50%of power consumption compared with those of the DPB impeller and DS-1impeller at Re (y) = 236, respectively. Thisindicated that the implementation of a self-similar structure designfor impeller blades could effectually enlarge the well-mixed regionsand improve the mixing effectiveness in the solid particles and pseudoplasticfluid mixing process, and with a greater effect obtained as the numberof self-similar iterations increased.

Automated summary

This study compared the mixing performance of a dislocated self-similarity impeller (DS impeller) and a dislocated pitched-blade impeller (DPB impeller) in the mixing process of solid particles and pseudoplastic fluid using experimental and computational fluid dynamics simulation. The results showed that the DS impeller could improve solid particle distribution and decrease power consumption by decomposing vortices and utilizing the self-similar structure design of impeller blades. The DS-2 impeller reduced about 40.56% and 13.50% of power consumption compared to the DPB impeller and DS-1 impeller, respectively. Therefore, the self-similar structure design significantly improves mixing effectiveness in the solid particles and pseudoplastic fluid mixing process.