Abstract
Computational fluid dynamics simulation was carried out to investigate flow field characteristics in a gas-liquid-solid agitated tank. The Eulerian multifluid model along with standard k-ε turbulence model was employed in the simulation. A multiple reference frame approach was used to treat the impeller rotation. Liquid velocity, gas holdup and solid holdup distributions in the agitated tank were obtained. The effect of operating conditions on gas and solid distributions was investigated. The predicted flow pattern was compared with results in literature. The simulation results indicate that local hydrodynamic behaviors such as velocity, gas and solid holdup distribution, are strongly influenced by operating conditions. Within the scope of our study, increasing gas inlet rate caused liquid circulation to be weakened and was not in favor of gas dispersion. Solid holdup in the upper part of the tank, especially near the wall region decreased. Adding solid loadings resulted in liquid mean velocity near the surface region decreased, gas dispersion and solid suspension becoming worse.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
M. Petitti, A. Nasuti, D.L. Marchisio, M. Vanni, G. Baldi, N. Mancini and F. Podenzani, AIChE J., 56, 36 (2010).
M. Bouaifi, G. Hebrard, D. Bastoul and M. Roustan, Chem. Eng. Process., 40, 97 (2001).
S. S. Alves, C. J. Maid, J.M. T. Vasconcelos and A. J. Serralheiro, Chem. Eng. J., 89, 109 (2002).
G. Montante, M. H. Occulti and F. Magelli, PIV Measurements of Mean Flow and Turbulence Modulation in Dilute Solid Liquid Stirred Tanks, 15th Int Symp on Applications of Laser Techniques to Fluid mechanics Lisbon Portugal, July 5-8 (2010).
R. Angst and M. Kraume, Chem. Eng. Sci., 61, 2864 (2006).
R.N. Sharma and A.A. Shaikh, Chem. Eng. Sci., 58, 2123 (2003).
Y.Y. Bao, Z.G. Hao, Z.M. Gao, L.T. Shi and J.M. Smith, Chem. Eng. Sci., 60, 2283 (2005).
N. Dohi, Y. Matsuda, K. Shimizu, K. Minekawa and Y. Kawase, Chem. Eng. Process., 41, 267 (2002).
J. J. Derksen, AIChE J., 49, 2700 (2003).
G.R. Kasat, A.R. Khopkar, V.V. Ranade and A.B. Pandit, Chem. Eng. Sci., 63, 3877 (2008).
A. Tamburini, A. Cipollina, G. Micale, M. Ciofalo and A. Brucato, Chem. Eng. Res. Design, 87, 587 (2009).
G.L. Lane, M.P. Schwarz and G.M. Evans, Appl. Mathematical Modeling, 26, 223 (2002).
B.N. Murthy, R. S. Ghadge and J.B. Joshi, Chem. Eng. Sci., 62, 7184 (2007).
R. Panneerselvam, S. Savithri and G.D. Surender, Chem. Eng. Res. Design, 86, 1331 (2008).
Z.M. Gao, J. M. Smith and H. Müller-Steinhagen, Chem. Eng. Process., 40, 489 (2001).
Fluent Inc., Gambit Modeling Guide. Lebanon: Fluent Inc., 41 (2006).
Fluent Inc., User’s Manual to FLUENT 6.1. Fluent Inc. Centrera Resource Park, 10 Cavendish Court, Lebanon, USA (2004).
R. Panneerselvam, S. Savithri and G.D. Surender, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 48, 1608 (2009).
L. Schiller and Z. Naumann, Z. Ver. Deutsch. Ing., 77, 318 (1935).
S. E. Elgobashi and M.A. Rizk, Int. J. Multiphase Flow, 15, 119 (1989).
A.M. Lupasteanu, A. I. Galaction and D. Cascaval, Romanian Society of Biological Sciences, 13, 3821 (2008).
N.N. Qi, G.Y. Wu, H. Wang, K. Zhang and H. Zhang, J. Chem. Industry Eng. (China), 61, 2305 (2010).
D. Wadnerkar, R. Utikar, M.O. Tade and V. K. Pareer, Adv. Power Technol., 23, 445 (2012).
N.N. Qi, H. Zhang, K. Zhang, G. Xu and Y. P. Yang, Particuology, 11, 317 (2013).
Z. Li, Experimental investigation and numerical simulation of flow characteristics in vessels stirred by disc turbines, Beijing: Beijing University of Chemical Technology (2007).
J. Aubin, N. Le Sauze, J. Bertrand, D.F. Fletcher and C. Xuerer, Experimental Thermal Fluid Sci., 28, 447 (2004).
R. K. Geisler and A.B. Mersmann, Local velocity distribution and power dissipation rate of suspension in stirred vessels, 6th European Conference on Mixing, Pavia, Italy, 267 (1988).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Li, L., Xu, B. Numerical simulation of flow field characteristics in a gas-liquid-solid agitated tank. Korean J. Chem. Eng. 33, 2007–2017 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-016-0105-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-016-0105-7