Experimental study on geometric structure of isolated mixing region in impeller agitated vessel

Abstract

Isolated mixing region in agitated vessel with rotated two-bladed paddle impeller and no baffle was visualized experimentally and its structural property was investigated in detail. A set of thin filaments spirally wrapping around the core of the toroidal isolated mixing region is observed under low Reynolds number conditions, which is smaller than 60. Three-dimensional geometrical structure of filament in isolated mixing region depends on the periodical perturbations caused by the rotating impeller. We have succeeded in the determination of three-dimensional geometrical structure of filament in isolated mixing region based on relation between the movement of fluid particle and filament numbers and/or wire turns. Interestingly, the wire turns of filaments are opposite to movements of fluid particles.