화학공학소재연구정보센터
Chemical Engineering Research & Design, Vol.77, No.8, 721-727, 1999
Comparing impeller performance for solid-suspension in the transitional flow regime with Newtonian fluids
Particle suspension in Newtonian fluids of viscosities from 0.01 to 1 Pas have been studied using Rushton turbines, pitched blade turbines, Chemineer HE-3 and Lightnin' A310 hydrofoils (all pumping downwards), and Ekato Intermig agitators. By comparison to the turbulent system (Ibrahim and Nienow, 1996(1)), at high viscosity, there was less random particle movement across the base prior to suspension. On the other hand, once the agitation speed, N, was high enough to achieve supension, i.e., N = N-js, particles remained longer in suspension after a reduction to N < N-js, though eventually with little or no hysterisis. Suspension at high viscosity was achieved with a lower mean specific energy dissipation rate, (epsilon(T))is, when using large D/T impellers whether of the radial or axial type. Thus, at Re > 3000, the optimum overall configuration was a D/T of about 0.4 with the downward pumping HE-3 and pitched blade turbines, whilst at Re < 3000, the optimum was the HE-3 at a D/T of about 0.5. The performance of dual Intermigs with D/T ratios of similar to 0.6 dramatically improved as the viscosity increased to 0.1 Pa s, and the single Intermig was the most efficient impeller at 1 Pa s. The Zwietering equation was found unsuitable for prediction of N-js at low Re.