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CHAPTER 6

CIRCULATION, VELOCITIES AND POWER CONSUMPTION IN AGITATED VESSELS

CHE503 FLUID FLOW

outlines
Introduction Geometric Similarity &

Scale up of stirred vessel


Power Consumption in Stirred Vessel

- Low viscosity

Introduction
Important factor in design of agitated vessel power

required to drive the impeller Empirical correlation have been developed to predict the power required Due to different flow pattern & mixing mechanisms involved, power consumption is considered separately low & high viscosity.

SCALE-UP OF STIRRED VESSELS.


Problem

to satisfy the arrangement experiments with small units to a large unit .

from

To attain the same kind of flow pattern in two units

geometrical, kinematic, and dynamic similarity and identical boundary conditions must be maintained.

Geometric similarity of a tank


Geometric similarity prevails between two systems of different sizes if all counterpart length dimensions have a constant ratio. Thus the following ratios must be the same in two systems:

DT Z A WB W H ; ; ; ; D D D D D

Thus, for typical mixing tank

DT Z W H 2; A 1; B 0.2; 2 D D D D

Example
A solution of sodium hydroxide of density 1650 kg/m3 and viscosity 50 mN s/m2 is agitated by a propeller mixer of 0.5 m diameter in a tank of 2.28 m diameter, and the liquid depth is 2.28 m. The propeller is situated 0.5 m above the bottom of the tank. Determine the geometric similarity of the particular tank.

SCALE-UP OF STIRRED VESSELS

For similarity in two mixing systems, it is important to achieve

geometric kinematic and dynamic similarity.


Geometric similarity prevails between two systems of

different sizes if all counterpart length dimensions have a constant ratio. Thus the following ratios must be the same in two systems: DT Z A WB W H and so on. ; ; ; ;

D D D

Kinematic similarity exists in two geometrically similar units

when the velocities at corresponding points have a constant ratio. Also, the paths of fluid motion (flow patterns) must be alike.
Dynamic similarity occurs in two geometrically similar units of

different sizes if all corresponding forces at counterpart locations have a constant ratio.

POWER CONSUMPTION IN STIRRED VESSELS


Power consumption is perhaps the most important parameter in

the design of stirred vessels. Due to different flow patterns and mixing mechanisms involved, it is convenient to consider the power consumption in low and high viscosity systems separately. LOW VISCOSITY SYSTEMS Vertical cylindrical tank H/D = 1.5 2.0 Fitted with an agitator Diameter of propeller = 1/3 of tank diameter Rotational speed at 10 25 Hz

Low Viscosity System - Power Consumption

P N p N D
3
Where; P = power (J/s or W) Np = power number = density (kg/m3) N = rotational speed (rev/s) Da = diameter of agitator ( m)

5 a

Low Viscosity System - Power Number

N p f (Re, Fr )
Where: Reynold number (Re) = NDa2/ Froude Number (Fr) = N2Da/g Note: Fr is neglected if Re < 300
Depend upon type of impeller/vessel design,

baffle arrangement, flow regime of the fluid, fluid properties

LOW VISCOSITY SYSTEM - POWER NUMBER


Simplest form is power law giving; Np = K Reb Frc K, b and c determined from experimental measurements if Re < 300, region Fr has no significant effect on Np

thus; Np = K Reb
if Re< 10, b = -1 ( inverse of Re value) Np = K Re-1 thus; P = KN2D3 Highly Re Number, P= KN3D5 K depends on the type impeller/vessel arrangement and fitted baffles.

Low Viscosity System - Power Correlation

Low Viscosity System - Power Correlation (2)

Power no. as a function of reynold no.

if Re < 300, region Fr has no significant effect on Np thus; Np = K Reb if Re< 10, b = -1 ( inverse of Re value) Np = K Re-1 thus; P = KN2D3

Example 7.1

On the assumption that the power required for mixing in a stirred tank is a function of the variables given in equation 7.12, obtain the dimensionless groups which are important in calculating power requirements for geometrically similar arrangements.

P f ( , , N , g , Da , DT )

Example 7.2
A solution of sodium hydroxide of density 1650

kg/m3 and viscosity 50 mN s/m2 is agitated by a propeller mixer of 0.5 m diameter in a tank of 2.28 m diameter, and the liquid depth is 2.28 m. The propeller is situated 0.5 m above the bottom of the tank. What is the power which the propeller must impart to the liquid for a rotational speed of 2 Hz?

High Viscosity System


Need special designed impellers close clearances with

vessel walls Interest in processing industries exhibit non-Newtonian behaviour & Newtonian fluids (glycerol & lubricating oils)

High Viscosity System (2)


For pseudoplastic liquids, average angular shear rate;

ang ks N

Limitation for a given geometry:

High Viscosity System - Power consumption


Prediction of Power Consumption for nonNewtonian fluids: Estimate the average shear rate Evaluate corresponding apparent viscosity flow curve / model Estimate Re and then Np and hence P (curve in Figure 7.8)

Typical Power consumption

Scale up technique-General Guide


1. Constant tip speed - Where suspended solids are involved - Where heat is transferred to a coil or jacket - For miscible liquids

2. Constant power per unit volume - Immiscible liquids - Emulsions - Pastes - Gas liquid systems

Example 7.3
A reaction is to be carried out in an agitated vessel.

Pilot scale tests have been carried out under fully turbulent conditions in a tank 0.6 m in diameter, fitted with baffles and provided with a flat-bladed turbine, and it has been found that satisfactory mixing is obtained at a rotor speed of 4 Hz when the power consumption is 0.15 kW and the Reynolds number 160,000. What should be the rotor speed in order to achieve the same degree of mixing if the linear scale of the equipment if increased by a factor of 6 and what will be the Reynolds number and the power consumption?

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