Transitional mixing of shear-thinning fluids in vessels with multiple impellers

Abstract

The mixing efficiency of shear-thinning fluids was evaluated using carboxy-methylcellulose sodium salt (Na-CMC) aqueous solutions of varying mass concentrations and three types of impellers (Rushton turbine (RT), six-flat-blade turbine (FBT), six-pitched-down-blade turbine (PBT)) which were mounted on a common shaft in combinations of three, four, and five impellers. The mixing time proved to be dependent on the number of impellers as well as on the distance between. The Reynolds number has a significant influence on the mixing time for all studied systems. The results of power consumption allowed to choose the impeller system with the best efficiency. © 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.