Analysis and optimisation of particle mixing performance in fluid phase resonance mixers based on Euler/Lagrange calculations

Abstract

A novel mixing principle utilising oscillating liquid columns was analysed numerically with regard to particle dispersion characteristics. For producing fluid oscillations a pipe (diameter 100 mm) was immersed centrally into a vessel (diameter 450 mm) filled with liquid (filling height 700 mm) and periodically pressurised (frequency 1.2 Hz). The outlet geometry of the central pipe, just ending near the vessel bottom, has a strong effect on mixing and was optimised in this study. The principle of a FPR-mixer does not require rotating stirrers and in the turbulent regime it has power numbers comparable to propellers. The numerical calculations were conducted by a Euler/Lagrange approach neglecting two-way coupling as well as inter-particle collisions for clarity in order to only focus on the effect of interfacial forces on particle dispersion. The continuous phase was calculated in an unsteady way based on the Reynolds-averaged equations combined with the k-ω-SST (shear stress transport) turbulence model. Lagrangian tracking was conducted considering all relevant forces; drag, gravity/buoyancy, fluid inertia, added mass, Basset force and transverse lift forces due to shear and particle rotation. The importance of these forces was analysed with respect to the turbulent particle Stokes number (considered range 0.004 < St < 10.0) and particle/liquid density ratio (i.e. 1.05, 1.5 and 2.5). Finally, the significance of Basset force and shear-rotation lift force (i.e. Magnus effect) on the dispersion process was quantified by mixing parameters.