Investigation on the flow characteristics of a novel multi-blade
combined agitator by time-resolved PIV and LES
Abstract
We investigated the flow characteristics in a tank of
H/T=1.5 stirred by a novel multi-blade combined agitator
(MBC) by using time-resolved PIV and LES approach. The predictions were
assessed by Y+ values and power spectrum analysis, as well as
experimental validation of velocity distributions. Results demonstrate
that the MBC agitator can load the energy into the system effectively
with a power number of 12.5 in a turbulent regime, resulting in improved
axial and radial mass exchange. The upper and lower short blades produce
an axial down-flow in the top half and an axial up-flow in the bottom
half, respectively. Part of axial flows change to radial flows by the
radial pumping of the long blades, meanwhile, the impingement of two
axial flows improves the axial mass exchange. These flow characteristics
leads to an obvious improvement in the turbulent kinetic energy
distribution uniformity.