Flow Patterns of Multiple Axial‐Radial Impellers for Potential Use in Aerated Stirred Tanks

The hydrodynamics of a stirred tank equipped with multiple hybrid impellers was experimentally characterized. They were coaxially placed to agitate a viscous Newtonian fluid under gassed conditions. Experiments were performed by using the particle image velocimetry technique, and flow fields were re...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Chemical engineering & technology 2022-05, Vol.45 (5), p.860-867
Main Authors: Posadas-Navarro, David, Palacios, Carlos, Blancas-Cabrera, Abel, Trujillo-Roldán, Mauricio A., Salinas-Vázquez, Martín, Ascanio, Gabriel
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aerated stirred tanks
Aeration tanks
Axial flow
Axial‐radial impellers
Fermentation
Flow distribution
Flow fields
Fluid flow
Fluid mechanics
Impellers
Newtonian fluids
Particle image velocimetry
Radial flow
Rushton turbines
Uniform flow
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Summary:The hydrodynamics of a stirred tank equipped with multiple hybrid impellers was experimentally characterized. They were coaxially placed to agitate a viscous Newtonian fluid under gassed conditions. Experiments were performed by using the particle image velocimetry technique, and flow fields were reported in terms of the velocity magnitude, vertical currents, turbulent intensity, and strain rates. For comparison purposes, impellers providing radial flow (Rushton turbines) and axial flow (pitched blade turbines) were also tested. The results showed that hybrid impellers provided a uniform flow distribution throughout the tank at moderate strain rates, which make them an attractive alternative for fermentation processes with shear‐sensitive cultures and viscous liquids. The performance of multiple hybrid impellers in a gas‐liquid system was analyzed by particle image velocimetry. For comparison, two other types of impellers providing radial or axial flow were also investigated. The results show that hybrid impellers can minimize some typical deficiencies of impellers discharging either radial or axial flow, so they are an attractive alternative for two‐phase systems.
ISSN:0930-7516
1521-4125
DOI:10.1002/ceat.202100521