POWER-LAW FLUID FLOW IN MIXERS OF VARIOUS CONFIGURATIONS
E.I. Borzenko, D.N. Garbuzov, M.A. Efremov
Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Russia
Keywords: mixing apparatus, power-law fluid, mathematical modeling, flow structure, mixing quality
Abstract
A numerical study of the effect of mixer configuration on the flow structure and mixing quality of a rheologically complex fluid in a mixing apparatus is performed in a two-dimensional formulation. Three mixer configurations are considered: paddle, anchor, and anchor with rotation. The non-Newtonian behavior of the fluid is described using the power-law model. The solution is obtained using the finite-volume method with the SIMPLE pressure-correction procedure, implemented on an unstructured triangular mesh. The flow structure is characterized by the formation of circulation zones near the blades and a shear-flow region along the solid wall of the apparatus. The redistribution of an ensemble of marker particles over time is also simulated to enable a qualitative assessment of the mixing process. A quantitative assessment is performed using a measure of marker distribution inhomogeneity.
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