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Chemical and Food Engineering Department

ChE 414: Momentum Transfer

CIRCULATION, VELOCITIES, & POWER CONSUMPTION IN AGITATED VESSELS

Bonifacio, Nestor Jr. A.

Lacdao, Drexler B.
Laygo, Jericho C.
Luna, Mikaela Louise R.
Panaligan, Kerby Z.
Reyes, Marjorie B.
Villanueva, Kim Gerard A.

November 28, 2016

ChE 414: Momentum Transfer
Circulation, Velocities, & Power Consumption In Agitated Vessels
Bonifacio, N Jr. Lacdao, D Laygo, J Luna, M L Panaligan, K Reyes, M Villanueva, K G

CIRCULATION, VELOCITIES,
& POWER CONSUMPTION
IN AGITATED VESSELS
ChE 414: Momentum Transfer
Circulation, Velocities, & Power Consumption In Agitated Vessels
Bonifacio, N Jr. Lacdao, D Laygo, J Luna, M L Panaligan, K Reyes, M Villanueva, K G

CIRCULATION, VELOCITIES, AND POWER CONSUMPTION IN AGITATED VESSELS

For a processing vessel to be effective, regardless of the nature of the agitation problem, the
volume of the fluid circulated by the impeller must be sufficient to sweep it the entire vessel in a
reasonable time.

In mixing and dispersion operations, the circulation rate is not the only factor, turbulence in the
moving stream often governs the effectiveness of the operation. Turbulence results from properly
directed currents and lard velocity gradients in the liquid.

Although both flow rate and power dissipation increase with stirrer peed, selection of the type
and size of impeller influences the relative values of flow rate and dissipation.

FLOW NUMBER
A turbine or propeller agitator is a pump impeller operating without a casing and with undirected
inlet and output flows.

Consider the flat-bladed turbine impeller in Figure 9.8 (McCabe, 5 th edition)

ChE 414: Momentum Transfer
Circulation, Velocities, & Power Consumption In Agitated Vessels
Bonifacio, N Jr. Lacdao, D Laygo, J Luna, M L Panaligan, K Reyes, M Villanueva, K G

Assume that the tangential liquid velocity is some fraction k of the blade-tip velocity, or

Since u2 = Dan, the volumetric flow rate through the impeller is

Here, Ap is taken to be the area of the cylinder swept out by the tips of the impeller blades or

Where: Da = impeller diameter

W = width of blades
From the geometry of Figure 9.8,

Substituting Vu2 from equation 1 gives,

The volumetric flow rate q is the total flow leaving the impeller, as measured at the tip of the blades,
using equations 2, 3, and 4, the volumetric flowrate is therefore

Where K is a constant that allows for the fact that radial velocity is not actually constant over the width of
the blade.
For geometrically similar impellers,

The ratio of these quantities is called the flow number N Q, which is defined by

For flat-bade turbines, the total flow, estimated from the average circulation time for particles or
dissolved tracers, was

For typical ratio Dt/Da = 3, qT is 2.76n Da3, or 2.1 times the value at the impeller (NQ = 1.3). Equation 9
should only be used for Dt/Da rations between 2 and 4.
For axial-flow impellers such as pitched-blade turbines or marine propellers,
For marine propellers (square pitch) NQ = 0.5
For a four-blade 45o turbine (W/Da = 1/6) NQ = 0.87

VELOCITY PATTERNS AND VELOCITY GRADIENTS

Velocity probes or photographic measurements of tracer particles - Used to obtain the flow
patterns, the local velocities, and the total flow produced by an impeller
Cutters results for a 4-in. flat-blade turbine in an 11.5-in. tank:
ChE 414: Momentum Transfer
Circulation, Velocities, & Power Consumption In Agitated Vessels
Bonifacio, N Jr. Lacdao, D Laygo, J Luna, M L Panaligan, K Reyes, M Villanueva, K G
o As the fluid leaves the impeller blades, the radial component of the fluid velocity V r at
the centerline of the impeller is about 0.6 times the tip speed u 2.
o The radial velocity decreases with vertical distance from the centerline, but, the jet
extends beyond the edge of the blades because of entrainment, and integration gives a
total flow of 0.75qB.
o As the jet travels away from the impeller, it slows down because of the increased area for
flow and because more liquid is entrained. Along the centerline of the impeller, the
velocity drops more or less linearly with radial distance, and the product V rr is nearly
constant.

Fluid currents observed with a six-bladed turbine, 6 in. in diameter, turning at 200 r/min in a 12-
in. vessel containing cold water:
o The plane of observation passes through the axis of the impeller shaft and immediately in
front of a radial baffle.
o Fluid leaves the impeller in a radial direction, separates into longitudinal streams flowing
upward or downward over the baffle, flows inward toward the impeller shaft, and
ultimately returns to the impeller intake.
o At the bottom of the vessel, immediately under the shaft, the fluid moves in a swirling
motion.
o Increasing the impeller speed increases the tip velocity and the circulation rate.
ChE 414: Momentum Transfer
Circulation, Velocities, & Power Consumption In Agitated Vessels
Bonifacio, N Jr. Lacdao, D Laygo, J Luna, M L Panaligan, K Reyes, M Villanueva, K G

POWER CONSUMPTION IN NEWTONIAN FLUIDS

P = qEk
where q = volumetric flowrate; Ek = kinetic energy per unit volume

q = nDa2NQ
where n = rotational speed; Da = diameter of impeller; NQ = flow number

2
( V '
2 )
Ek =
2

where = density; V2 = velocity

V ' 2=n Da

where = ratio V2/u2

2 2

P= n3 Da5 (
2
NQ )
Power Number
P
o SI Unit NP = n Da5
3

P gc
o English Unit NP = n Da5
3

o Standard six-blade turbine: NQ = 1.3; = 0.95; NP = 5.8

Power Correlations
o n, Da,,g,
o Shape factors
S1 = Da/Dt
ChE 414: Momentum Transfer
Circulation, Velocities, & Power Consumption In Agitated Vessels
Bonifacio, N Jr. Lacdao, D Laygo, J Luna, M L Panaligan, K Reyes, M Villanueva, K G
S2 = E/Dt
S3 = L/Da
S4 = W/Da
S5= J/Dt
S6 = H/Dt
o Np = (Re, Fr, S1, S2,S3,..Sn)
Re = Da2n/
Re: Laminar (Re<10), Turbulent (Re>104)
Fr = n2Da/g
If Re is too high, Fr is not included

Effects of System Geometry

o S1, NP (few and narrow baffles)
o S1, NP (many and wide baffles)
o S1 no effect (four baffles and S5 to 1/12)
o S2, NP (disk turbine)
o S2, NP (pitched-blade turbine, open straight-blade turbine)
o S4, NP (six-blade turbine)
o S41.25, NP (four-blade turbine)
o Pstraight-blade open turbine = 1.9Pone turbine
o Ptwo closely space turbine = 2.4Psingle
o The shape of the tank has relatively little effect on NP

POWER CONSUMPTION IN NON-NEWTONIAN FLUIDS

Power number
P gc
o SI Unit
N p=
n D5a
3

P gc
o English Unit NP = 3
n Da
5

Reynolds number
ChE 414: Momentum Transfer
Circulation, Velocities, & Power Consumption In Agitated Vessels
Bonifacio, N Jr. Lacdao, D Laygo, J Luna, M L Panaligan, K Reyes, M Villanueva, K G
n D2a
o N ,n =
a

Relationship between the average apparent viscosity and the average shear rate
'
n 1
du
o a=K
dy
'
( ) av

2
n Da
N ,n = '
n 1
du
K
'
dy ( ) av

Power consumption for impellers in pseudoplastic, Bingham plastic, and dilatant non-newtonian
fluids may be calculated by using the correlating lines of Fig. 18-17 if viscosity is obtained from
viscosity shear rate curves as described here.
Pseudoplastic fluid- viscosity decreases as shear rate increases.
Bingham plastic - requires that a minimum shear stress be exceeded for any flow to occur.
Dilatant fluid, viscosity increases as shear rate increases.
The appropriate shear rate to use in calculating viscosity is given by one of the following
equations when a propeller or a turbine is used
o For dilatant liquids
o For pseudoplastic and
Bingham plastic fluids
where =average shear rate, s1.
n2n' D2a
o N ,n = '

11 n 1 K '
Power Number- Reynolds Number Correlation For A Six-blade Turbine Impeller in Pseudoplastic
Fluids

BLENDING AND MIXING

Mixing
o much more difficult operation to study and describe than agitation.
o highly reproducible results which depend in large measure on how mixing is defined by
the particular experimenter.
o Criterion for Good Mixing
ChE 414: Momentum Transfer
Circulation, Velocities, & Power Consumption In Agitated Vessels
Bonifacio, N Jr. Lacdao, D Laygo, J Luna, M L Panaligan, K Reyes, M Villanueva, K G
Use of interference phenomena to follow the blending of gases in a duct
Colour change of an acid-base indicator to determine liquid-blending times.
Rate of decay of concentration or temperature fluctuations
Variation in the analyses of small samples from one liquid phase to another
Uniformity of the suspension in solid-liquid mixtures.
Blending Of Miscible Liquids
o Blended by propellers or turbine impellers in relatively small process vessels
o Blended by side-entering propellers or jet mixers in large storage and waste-treatment
tanks.
o Blending In Process Vessels
Mixing time For a standard six-blade turbine
Dt
q=0.92 n Da
3
( )
Da
2
5V Dt H 1

tT =5
q 4 0.92 D2a D t
2
Da Dt
n tT
( )( )
Dt H
=constant=4.3

Dt 1 Dt
For a turbine with = and =1 the value of n t T is 36 for
Da 3 H

N >103 , compared with a predicted value of 39.

Fox and
Gex correlation
2 2 /3 1 /6
tT ( n Da ) g Da
3 /2
Dt
1 /2 1 /6

o f t=
H
1 /2
Dt
=n t T
( )( )( )
Dt H 2
g
n Da

Dt Dt 1
o Data were for of 0.07 to 0.18; the extrapolation to =
Da Da 3

Froude number
2 /3
t T ( n D 2a ) g1 /6 D1/a 2 Da 2
Dt 1/ 2 1/6

o f t=
H 1 /2 D3t /2
=nt T ( )( ) ( )
Dt H 2
g
n Da
ChE 414: Momentum Transfer
Circulation, Velocities, & Power Consumption In Agitated Vessels
Bonifacio, N Jr. Lacdao, D Laygo, J Luna, M L Panaligan, K Reyes, M Villanueva, K G

Helical Ribbon Agitator

o In a pseudoplastic liquid, blending times at Reynolds number below about 1000
are much longer than in Newtonian liquids under the same impeller
conditions.
o At high Reynolds numbers there is little difference in the mixing characterics
of Newtonian and pseudoplastic liquids.
o When gas bubble, liquid drops, or solid particles are dispersed in a liquid, the
blending time for the continuous phase is increased.
o The effect increases with viscosity and for viscous liquids the blending time
can be up to twice the normal value when the gas holdup is only 10 percent.

PROBLEMS
1. A tank 1.2m in diameter and 2m high is filled to a depth of 1.2 m with a latex having a viscosity
of 10P and a density of 800 kg/m3. The tank is not baffled. A three-blade 360-mm-diameter
propeller is installed in the tank 360mm from the bottom. The pitch is 1:1 (pitch equals diameter).
The motor available develops 8kW. Is the motor adequate to drive this agitator at a speed of 800
r/min?
2. Power for Liquid Agitation. It is desired to agitate a liquid having a viscosity of 1.5x10 -3 Pa.s and
a density of 969 kg/m3 in a tank having a diameter of a 0.91 m. The agitator will be a six-blade
open turbine having a diameter of 0.305 m operating at 180 rpm. The tank has four vertical
baffles each with a width J of 0.076 m. Also, W = 0.0381 m. Calculate the required kW. Use
curve 2 from Figure 3.4-4 (pp. 145 Geankoplis) or (pp18-3 Perry)
3. Power for Agitation and Scale-Up. A turbine agitator having six flat blades an a disk has a
diameter of 0.203 m and is used in a tank having a diameter of 0.61 m and height of 0.61 m. The
ChE 414: Momentum Transfer
Circulation, Velocities, & Power Consumption In Agitated Vessels
Bonifacio, N Jr. Lacdao, D Laygo, J Luna, M L Panaligan, K Reyes, M Villanueva, K G
width W = 0.0405 m. Four baffles are used having a width of 0.051 m. The turbine operates at
275 rpm in a liquid having a density of 909 kg/m3 and viscosity of 0.020 Pa.s.
(a) Calculate the kW power of the turbine and kW/m3 of volume.
(b) Scale up this system to a vessel having a volue of 100 times the original for the case equal
mass transfer rates.

REFERENCES
McCabe, W. and Smith, J. (1976). Unit operations of chemical engineering. 1st ed. New York: McGraw
Hill.
Geankoplis, C. (1993). Transport processes and unit operations. 1st ed. Engelwood Cliffs, N.J.: PTR
Prentice Hall.
Perry, R. and Green, D. (1984). Perry's Chemical engineers' handbook. 8th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill.