Search results for " STIR"
showing 10 items of 246 documents
Mixing dynamics in uncovered unbaffled stirred tanks
2014
Abstract The present work is aimed at providing experimental information on mixing rates in an unbaffled vessel under free surface vortexing conditions. The planar laser induced fluorescence (PLIF) technique was used for measuring the dispersion dynamics of a passive tracer over a vertical section of the vessel. In agreement with the quite scant literature information available for these systems, results confirm the existence of two well defined, partially segregated, zones that give rise to a double mixing dynamics behavior. A suitable mixing time definition is proposed and applied to a number of experimental runs with different stirrer geometries and agitation speeds. Results confirm that…
A Neural Network Based Approach for the Design of FSW Processes
2009
Friction Stir Welding (FSW) is an energy efficient and environmentally "friendly" welding process. The parts are welded together in a solid-state joining process at a temperature below the melting point of the workpiece material under a combination of extruding and forging. This technology has been successfully used to join materials that are difficult-to-weld or ‘unweldable’ by fusion welding methods. In the paper a neural network was set up and trained in order to predict the final grain size in the transverse section of a FSW butt joint of aluminum alloys. What is more, due to the relationship between the extension of the “material zones” and the joint resistance, the AI tool was able to…
CFD simulations of dense sloid-liquid suspensions in baffled stirred tanks: Prediction of suspension curves
2011
Mixing of solid particles into liquids within contactors mechanically agitated by stirrers is a topic of primary importance for several industrial applications. A great research effort has been devoted to the assessment of the minimum impeller speed (Njs) able to guarantee the suspension of all particles. Conversely, only little attention has been paid so far to the evaluation of the amount of solid particles that are suspended at impeller speeds lower than Njs. In some cases the loss in available interfacial area between particles and liquid could be reasonably counterbalanced by a decreased mechanical power, making it of interest to evaluate the percentage of suspended solids at different…
Friction Stir Welding Lap Joint Resistance Optimization Through Gradient Techniques
2007
In recent years, scientific interest on friction stir welding (FSW) has grown more and more since such a joining technique allows one to weld lightweight alloys that are rather difficult to weld or even “unweldable” with the classic fusion welding operations. Furthermore, few industrial applications of the process are already known in different manufacturing fields. In this paper, the optimization problem of a FSW lap joint for automotive applications is investigated, taking into account process parameters such as the tool rotating speed and the tool feed rate; a numerical gradient technique is applied for the optimization procedure reducing the number of experimental tests to be developed.
Friction Stir Welding of AA6082-T6 T-joints: Process Engineering and Performance Measurement
2006
In the paper the authors present the results of a wide range of experiments on T-parts. First, friction stir welding process engineering has been developed with the aim of determining the specific process parameters that make up the soundness of the obtained T-parts. Then the performance of the obtained T-joints has been compared with T-joints obtained by metal inert gas welding and extruded T-parts. The parts have been tested utilizing a customized bending test with the aim of highlighting their behaviour both in elastic and plastic fields.
Friction stir welding: a solid state joining process
2007
A wide experimental investigation on the friction stir welding of AA6082-T6 sheets is presented. In particular the influence of some of the most relevant process parameters was taken into account, with the aim to maximize the joint strength; furthermore the joint fatigue behavior was considered too. An accurate analysis on the obtained parts was carried out, with particular attention to the material microstructure evolution. The obtained results permitted to develop a proper FSW process engineering.
CFD simulations of dense solid–liquid suspensions in baffled stirred tanks: Prediction of solid particle distribution
2013
Abstract Industrial tanks devoted to the mixing of solid particles into liquids are often operated at an impeller speed N less than Njs (defined as the lowest speed allowing the suspension of all particles): under such conditions the distribution of solid-particles is very far from being homogeneous and very significant concentration gradients exist. The present work is devoted to assessing the capability of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) in predicting the particle distribution throughout the tank. The CFD model proposed by Tamburini et al. [58] and successfully applied to the prediction of the sediment amount and shape was adopted here to simulate the particle distribution under partia…
Oscillation dynamics of free vortex surface in uncovered unbaffled stirred vessels
2016
Abstract The main feature of unbaffled stirred tanks is the highly swirling liquid motion, which leads to the formation of a central vortex on the liquid free surface, when the vessel is operated without top-cover (Uncovered Unbaffled Stirred Tanks, UUST). One of the main drawbacks of such vessels, that limits their industrial applicability, is the possible onset of low-frequency sloshing of the free surface. In this work, original data on oscillation dynamics in UUST are presented. In particular, data focus on the oscillation amplitude as well as on their frequency. Data were obtained by means of a novel experimental technique based on digital image analysis. The effect of impeller geometr…
Particle distribution in dilute solid liquid unbaffled tanks via a novel laser sheet and image analysis based technique
2013
The availability of experimental information on particle distribution inside stirred tanks is a topic of great importance for many industrial applications such as catalysis and polymerization. The measurement of solid particle distribution is not simple and the development of suitable measuring techniques is still an open problem in chemical engineering research. In this work, a non-intrusive optical technique for measuring particle concentration fields in solid–liquid systems is discussed. The “Laser Sheet Image Analysis” (LSIA) technique described here makes use of a laser sheet, a digital camera for image acquisition and a suitable procedure for post-processing. It is able to provide sol…
Free-surface shape in unbaffled stirred vessels: Experimental study via digital image analysis
2013
There is a growing interest in using unbaffled stirred tanks for addressing a number of processing needs such as low shear damage (sensitive biocultures), low attrition (solid–liquid applications), deep-cleaning/sterilization (pharmaceutical applications). The main feature of uncovered, unbaffled stirred tanks is highly swirling motion of the fluid that results in a deformation of the free liquid surface. At sufficiently high agitation speeds the resulting whirlpool reaches the impeller and gives rise to a gas–liquid dispersion, so leading to the formation of a dispersion without the use of gas-sparger; the so-called self-inducing operation of the vessel. In this work, digital image analysi…