A Numerical Study of Mixing Performance of High-Viscosity Fluid in Novel Static Mixers with Multitwisted Leaves

Abstract

The flow performance of a high-viscosity fluid in novel static mixers with multitwisted leaves was investigated numerically in the range of Re = 0.1–150. The effects of mixing-segment construction, Reynolds number, and aspect ratio on the chaotic mixing characteristics of different static mixers were evaluated based on the Lagrangian tracking method. The tracer particle distributions, G values, extensional efficiency characteristics, and stretching fields were used to evaluate the dispersion and distribution mixing performances in the new static mixers. Compared with the Kenics static mixer (KSM), the static mixers with three twisted leaves (TKSM) and four twisted leaves (FKSM) achieved chaotic mixing status much earlier and could also maintain this status by successive mixing-element groups. In contrast, there were large unmixed zones in the static mixer with double twisted leaves (DKSM). Stretching rates calculated from pathlines were found to be in good agreement with results reported in the literature...