Mixing of shear‐thinning fluids with yield stress in stirred tanks

Abstract

AbstractMixing of shear‐thinning fluids with yield stress is investigated in a three‐dimensional (3‐D) flow both in experiments and in simulations. Experiments are conducted in a stirred tank using tracer visualization and velocity measurements. Bulk flow visualization shows the familiar cavern formation around the impeller with stagnant zones surrounding it. Detailed flow visualization inside caverns reveals the main ingredients of chaotic flow: lobe formation, stretching, folding, and self‐similar mixing patterns. For multiple impeller systems, however, we find strong compartmentalization characterized by robust segregation between adjacent caverns, hindering mixing performance. Mixing efficiency is enhanced by moving the shaft off‐center, which breaks spatial symmetry. The displacement of the shaft from the tank centerline has a beneficial effect on manifold structure: segregated regions are destroyed, separatrices are eliminated, and axial circulation is improved. Numerical simulations are performed by solving the incompressible Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes equation with a Galerkin Least‐Squares finite‐element formulation and a macroscopic rheological model. Simulations are able to capture the main features of the flow and are used to investigate stretching statistics and scale behavior. © 2006 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2006