Search results for "Stirred vessel"
showing 4 items of 24 documents
Experiments and predictions of the transition of the flow pattern with impeller clearance in stirred tanks
2001
In the present work, the double- to single-loop flow pattern transition in a stirred vessel equipped with a Rushton turbine is investigated by Laser Doppler anemometry (LDA). In particular, the clearance at which such transition occurs is assessed by comparing axial velocity profiles underneath the impeller. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of the same system are carried out, by employing the 'inner-outer' fully predictive computation strategy. The comparison of predicted results with the experimental data collected shows that the transition is well reproduced by simulations. A good agreement on the mean velocities is also observed but for the impeller discharge stream angle t…
Solid–Liquid Suspensions in Top-Covered Unbaffled Vessels: Influence of Particle Size, Liquid Viscosity, Impeller Size, and Clearance
2014
Particle suspension in liquids is a unit operation commonly encountered in the process industry. Although it is usually carried out in baffled stirred tanks, there are some specific applications where the presence of baffles may be undesirable. In the present work solid-liquid suspensions are investigated in a radially stirred unbaffled tank provided with a top cover. The minimum impeller speed at which all solid particles get suspended (Njs) and the relevant power requirements (Pjs) are assessed. The dependence of these two parameters on physical properties (liquid viscosity, particle concentration, and size) and system geometrical configurations (impeller diameter and clearance) is invest…
Vortex shape in unbaffled stirred vessels: experimental study via digital image analysis
2011
There is a growing interest in using unbaffled stirred tanks for addressing certain processing needs. In this work, digital image analysis coupled with a suitable shadowgraphy-based technique is used to investigate the shape of the free-surface vortex that forms in uncovered unbaffled stirred tanks. The technique is based on back-lighting the vessel and suitably averaging vortex shape over time. Impeller clearance from vessel bottom and tank filling level are varied to investigate their influence on vortex shape. A correlation is finally proposed to fully describe vortex shape also when the vortex encompasses the impeller.
CFD simulation of a mixing-sensitive reaction in unbaffled vessels
2008
Stirred tanks are widely used in the process industry, often to carry out complex chemical reactions. In many of such cases the perfect mixing hypothesis is not applicable for modelling purposes, and more detailed modelling approaches are required in order to accurately describe the reactor behaviour. In this work a fully predictive modelling approach, based on Computational Fluid Dynamics, is developed. Model predictions are compared with original experimental data obtained in un unbaffled stirred vessel with a parallel-competitive, mixing sensitive reaction scheme. Notably, satisfactory results are obtained at all injection rates with no recourse to micro-mixing model, thus confirming the…