Characterization of axial flow impellers in pulp fibre suspensions

Two axial flow impellers commonly used in pulp agitation applications were characterized in hardwood and softwood low-consistency pulp fibre suspensions. The impellers operated in the laminar and transition-to-turbulence regimes with the suspension mass concentration significantly affecting both pow...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Chemical engineering research & design 2009-04, Vol.87 (4), p.648-653
Main Authors: Bhole, M., Ford, C., Bennington, C.P.J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Axial flow impellers
CFD
Mixing
Pulp fibre suspensions
Yield stress
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Summary:Two axial flow impellers commonly used in pulp agitation applications were characterized in hardwood and softwood low-consistency pulp fibre suspensions. The impellers operated in the laminar and transition-to-turbulence regimes with the suspension mass concentration significantly affecting both power and axial thrust numbers. Axial force numbers could be collapsed to a single operating curve using the yield stress Reynolds number, but the power number remained a function of suspension properties. CFD was used to model impeller flow using a Bingham approximation to describe the suspension rheology. Model agreement with the experimental measurements was generally good, with the values of N P and N f determined to within 24 and 16%, respectively. The error can be explained by the uncertainty in the rheological characterization of the pulp suspension, particularly the yield stress.
ISSN:0263-8762
1744-3563
DOI:10.1016/j.cherd.2008.11.002