UNIT OPERATION LABORATORY 2

(CCB 2092)
EXPERIMENT 8:
FLUID MIXING
GROUP MEMBERS : (GROUP 11)
1)

SEAN SURAJ JEREMIAH (14286)

2)

SUHAIQAH SYARFINAZ BINTI MAT SAID

(15508)
3)

SITI AISHAH BINTI KHALED (14306)

4)

SYAZANA FITRI BINTI ROZIAEDY (14568)

5)

TENGKU SYAZA AMALINA BINTI TENGKU

AZAM (14356)

DATE OF SUBMISSION : 25 JUNE 2012

Title :
Determining the fluid flow patterns in mixing tanks.
Objectives :
1) To determine the fluid flow pattern in a mixing tank
a. with and without baffles.
b. with different impeller positions
c. with different types of impellers.
Theory :
Large liquid-circulation loops developed in stirred vessels make mixing performance
poor. For mixing to be effective, fluid circulated by the impeller must sweep the
entire vessel in a reasonable time. In addition, the velocity of fluid leaving the
impeller must be sufficient to carry material into the most remote parts of the tank.
Turbulence must also be developed in the fluid; mixing is certain to be poor unless
flow in the tank is turbulent. All these factors are important in mixing, which can be
described as a combination of three physical processes: distribution, dispersion
and diffusion.
The process whereby materials are transported to all regions of the vessel by bulk
circulation currents is called distribution. Distribution is an important process in
mixing, but can be relatively slow. In large tank, the size of the circulation paths is
also large and the time taken to traverse them is long; this, together with the
regularity of liquid pumping at the impeller, inhibits rapid mixing. Accordingly,
distribution is often the slowest step in the mixing process. However, if the
rotational speed of the impeller is sufficiently high, superimposed on the distribution
process is turbulence. Turbulence flow occurs when fluid no longer travels along
streamlines but moves erratically in the form of cross-currents.
2

The kinetic energy of turbulent fluid is directed into regions of rotational flow called
eddies; masses of eddies of various size coexist during turbulent flow. Large eddies
are continuously formed by action of the stirrer; these break down into small eddies
which produce even smaller eddies. Eddies, like spinning tops, posses kinetic
energy. When the eddies become so small that they can no longer sustain rotational
motion, their kinetic energy is dissipated as heat.
The process of breaking up bulk flow into smaller and smaller eddies is called
dispersion; dispersion facilitates rapid transfer of material throughout the vessel.
The degree of homogeneity as a result of dispersion is limited by the size of the
smallest eddies which may be formed in a particular fluid.
This size is given approximately as the Kolmogorov scale of mixing, or scale of
turbulence, .

v3

pm

1/ 4

Within eddies there is little mixing because rotating flow occurs in streamlines.
Therefore, to achieve mixing on a scale smaller than the Kolmogorov scale, we must
rely on diffusion.
Molecular diffusion is generally regarded as a slow process, however, over small
distances it can be accomplished quite rapidly. Within eddies of 30~100 m
diameter,

homogeneity is

achieved

in

about

1 s

for

low-viscosity

fluids.

Consequently, if power input to a stirred vessel produces eddies of this dimension,

mixing on a molecular scale is accomplished virtually simultaneously.
The figure shows the types of impellers used in the
experiment, a propeller (left) and a flat blade disk
turbine (right).

The picture shows the flow pattern in a unbaffled tank. Circular flow is formed
around the shaft and a vortex is formed at

the centre.

Pictured above is flow in a baffled tanks. Left axial flow, flow is parallel to the axis.
Right radial flow, flow is mainly around the axis
of rotation.

The picture illustrates the fluid flow around a

baffle. Cavitation occurs around the region around the wall of the tank obstructed
by the baffle.

Results :
YELLOW BEADS - SHROUDED FLAT BLADE
REFER TO APPENDIX I

RED BEADS - DISC MOUNTED FLAT BLADE

REFER TO APPENDIX II

Discussion
Determination of various flow patterns exhibited by different types of impellers (Mixing tank without baffle)

In this experiment, two types of impeller (shrouded flat blade and disc
mounted flat blade) are used to study the pattern of fluid flow without the use
of baffle.
As the speed of the rotating impeller increases, the movement of the yellow
beads increases in speed while circular pattern is maintained. This applies for
both of the impellers
From this experiment, it is observed that the diameter of the circular motion
of the sand particle is smaller when shrouded flat blade is used, as compared
to that of disc mounted flat blade

Determination of various flow patterns exhibited by different types of impeller

(Mixing tank without baffle)

In this experiment, two types of impeller (shrouded flat blade and disc
mounted flat blade) are used to study the pattern of fluid flow with the use of
baffle.
As the speed of the rotating impeller increases, the movement of the yellow
beads increases in speed. Circular pattern is only maintained at speed 100
rpm. At 300 rpm, the sand particles begin to swirl in turbulent motion, and
this effect is more pronounced at 500 rpm. This applies for both of the
impellers
From this experiment, it is observed the motion of the sand particle in the
disc mounted flat blade is much more disordered at the speed increases, as
compared to that of shrouded flat blade.

Determination of the influence of impeller position to rate of dispersion of solid in

liquid (tank without baffle)

In this experiment, two types of impellers (shrouded flat blade and disc
mounted flat blade) are used to study the flow pattern of the liquid in the
tank without the baffle through the beads using various positions and speed

Shrouded flat blade

When the impeller is set up to its initial position, the lifting capacity
progressively increases as the speed of the rotating impeller is increased. The
motion of sand particle remains in circular or ordered pattern regardless of
the speed. No dead spot is observed.
When the impeller is set up to be lower than its original position, the lifting
capacity drastically increases as the speed of the rotating impeller is
increased. The motion of the sand particle remains in a circular motion
regardless of the speed. No dead spot is observed.
When the impeller is set up to be higher than its original position, the lifting
capacity progressively increases as the speed of the rotating impeller is
increased. The motion of sand particle remains in circular or ordered pattern
regardless of the speed. No dead spot is observed.
When the impeller is positioned on the side of the tank, the lifting capacity
progressively increases as the speed of the rotating impeller is increased. The
motion of the sand particle is circular regardless of the speed. No dead spot is
observed.
When the impeller is set to an inclined position, the lifting capacity
progressively increases as the speed of the rotating impeller is increased. The
motion of sand particle remains in circular or ordered pattern regardless of
the speed though as the speed increases the sand particle move nearer to
the bottom of the impeller. No dead spot is observed.

Disc mounted flat blade

When the impeller is set up to its initial position, the lifting capacity
progressively increases as the speed of the rotating impeller is increased. The
motion of the sand particle remains in an orderly pattern at speed 100 rpm,
but the speed reaches 500 rpm, the sand particle begins to swirl around in
bigger diameter. No dead spot is observed.
When the impeller is set up to be lower than its original position, the lifting
capacity progressively increases as the speed of the rotating impeller is
increased. The motion of the sand particle remains in an orderly pattern at
speed 100 rpm, but the speed reaches 500 rpm, the sand particle begins to
swirl around in bigger diameter. No dead spot is observed.
When the impeller is set up to be higher than its original position, the lifting
capacity progressively increases as the speed of the rotating impeller is
increased. The motion of the sand particle remains in an orderly pattern at
speed 100 rpm, but the speed reaches 500 rpm, the sand particle begins to
swirl around in bigger diameter. No dead spot is observed.
When the impeller is positioned on the side of the tank, the lifting capacity
fluctuates as the as the speed of the rotating impeller is increased. The
motion of sand particle remains in circular or ordered pattern regardless of
the speed. No dead spot is observed.
6

When the impeller is set to an inclined position, the lifting capacity fluctuates
as the speed of the rotating impeller is increased. The motion of sand particle
remains in circular or ordered pattern regardless of the speed but as the
speed reaches 500 rpm, the sand particle begin to swirl in turbulent motion.
No dead spot is observed.

From this experiment, it is observed that for this application, the best
configuration is disc mounted flat blade, in an upright position, 100mm apart
from the bottom of the tank, at speed 500 rpm, for it can induce turbulent flow
and even mixing.

Determination of the influence of impeller position to rate of dispersion of solid in

liquid (tank with baffle)

In this experiment, two types of impellers (shrouded flat blade and disc
mounted flat blade) are used to study the flow pattern of the liquid in the tank
with the baffle through the beads using various positions and speed

Shrouded flat blade

When the impeller is set up to its initial position, the lifting capacity
progressively increases as the speed of the rotating impeller is increased. The
sand particles move in turbulent motion regardless of the speed. Dead spots
are more noticeable as the speed increases.
When the impeller is set up to be lower than its original position, the lifting
capacity progressively increases as the speed of the rotating impeller is
increased. The sand particles move in turbulent motion regardless of the
speed. Dead spots are more noticeable as the speed increases.
When the impeller is set up to be higher than its original position, the lifting
capacity progressively increases as the speed of the rotating impeller is
increased. The sand particles move in turbulent motion regardless of the
speed. Dead spots are more noticeable as the speed increases.
When the impeller is positioned at the side of tank, the lifting capacity
progressively increases as the speed of the rotating impeller is increased. The
sand particles move in turbulent motion regardless of the speed. Dead spots
are more noticeable as the speed increases.
7

When the impeller is positioned at an angle, the lifting capacity progressively

increases as the speed of the rotating impeller is increased. The sand particles
move in turbulent motion regardless of the speed. Dead spots are more
noticeable as the speed increases

Disc mounted flat blade

When the impeller is set up to at its original position, the lifting capacity
progressively increases as the speed of the rotating impeller is increased. At
100 rpm, the sand particles move in circular while at 300 rpm and 500 rpm,
the sand particles move in turbulent motion regardless of the speed. Dead
spots are more noticeable as the speed increases.
When the impeller is set up to be lower than its original position, the lifting
capacity progressively increases as the speed of the rotating impeller is
increased. At 100 rpm, the sand particles move in circular while at 300 rpm
and 500 rpm, the sand particles move in turbulent motion regardless of the
speed. Dead spots are more noticeable as the speed increases
When the impeller is set up to be higher than its original position, the lifting
capacity drastically increases as the speed of the rotating impeller is
increased. At 100 rpm, the sand particles move in circular while at 300 rpm
and 500 rpm, the sand particles move in turbulent motion Dead spots are
more noticeable as the speed increases.
When the impeller is positioned at the side of the tank, the lifting capacity
progressively increases as the speed of the rotating impeller is increased. The
motion of sand particle remains in circular or ordered pattern regardless of the
speed. Dead spot starts to appear when speed reaches 300 rpm and increases
in size as the speed increases.
When the impeller is positioned at an angle, the lifting capacity progressively
increases as the speed of the rotating impeller is increased. At 100 rpm, the
sand particles move in circular while at 300 rpm and 500 rpm, the sand
particles move in turbulent motion regardless of the speed. Dead spots are
more noticeable as the speed increases

From this experiment, the best configuration for this application is either disc
mounted flat blade or shrouded flat blade impeller, at any position as long as the
speed is between 300 rpm and 500 rpm, in order to minimize dead spots, while
inducing turbulence for an effective mixing.

Conclusion
From this experiment, we can conclude that the pattern flow of water is
affected by type, positions of the impellers as well as the presence of baffle. As for
8

the speed, at 100 rpm, there is not much of movement of the beads is observed.
The beads accumulate at the circumference of the mixing tanks bottom. This is
because the radially swirling flow pushes away the beads far to the circumference
of the tank. The movement of the agitator does not produce significant mixing of
the fluid. There is also no significant lifting capacity at lower RPM of the impeller.
However, as the RPM is increased, the beads concentrate at the bottom middle of
the tank. This is because the current is most intensified at the center of the tank. At
300 to 500 rpm, the flow of the water and movement of beads start to increase. It
shows the relation when the speed is increase, the flow also will increase. The
patterns of the beads movements starting to be change slowly from radial pattern
flows to axial pattern flows.

APPENDIX I
YELLOW BEADS - SHROUDED FLAT BLADE
(Higher = 150 mm ; Normal = 100 mm ; Lower = 50 mm)
1) 150mm without baffle
0 rpm

100 rpm

300 rpm

500 rpm

2) 150mm with baffle

0 rpm

100 rpm

10

300 rpm

500 rpm

3) 50 mm with baffle
0 rpm

100 rpm
11

300 rpm

500 rpm

12

4) 100 mm with baffle

0 rpm

100 rpm

13

300 rpm

500 rpm

14

5) 100 mm with baffle (right/left hand side)

0 rpm

100 rpm

15

300 rpm

500 rpm

16

6) 100 mm with baffle (inclined)

0 rpm

100 rpm

17

300 rpm

500 rpm

18

7) 50 mm without baffle
0 rpm

100 rpm

19

300 rpm

500 rpm

20

8) 150 mm without baffle

0 rpm

100 rpm

21

300 rpm

500 rpm

22

9) 100 mm without baffle

0 rpm

100 rpm

23

300 rpm

500 rpm

24

10)
0 rpm

100 mm without baffle (right/left hand side)

100 rpm

25

300 rpm

500 rpm

26

11)
0 rpm

100 mm without baffle (inclined)

100 rpm

27

300 rpm

500 rpm

28

29

APPENDIX 2
RED BEADS - DISC MOUNTED FLAT BLADE
(Higher = 100 mm ; Normal = 75 mm ; Lower = 50 mm)
1) 100mm without baffle
0 rpm

300rpm

100rpm

500 rpm
30

2) 75mm without baffle

0 rpm

100 rpm

300 rpm

500 rpm

31

3) 50mm without baffle

0 rpm

100 rpm

300 rpm

500 rpm

32

4) 75mm without baffle

0 rpm

100 rpm

300 rpm

500 rpm

33

5) 75mm without baffle (inclined)

0 rpm

100 rpm

300 rpm

500 rpm

34

6) 100mm with baffle

0 rpm

100 rpm

300 rpm

500 rpm

35

7) 75mm with baffle

0 rpm

100 rpm

300 rpm

500 rpm
36

8) 50mm with baffle

0 rpm

100 rpm

300 rpm

500 rpm
37

9) 75mm with baffle (right/left hand side)

0 rpm

100 rpm

300 rpm

500 rpm
38

10)

75mm with baffle (inclined)

0 rpm

100 rpm

300 rpm

500 rpm
39

40