Numerical modelling of stirred tank and its validation by Radioactive Particle Tracking (RPT) technique

ABSTRACT

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model for Rushton Turbine (RT) stirred tanks has been developed. The CFD model has been validated with experimental (RPT) data. The RPT data were calibrated with Laser Doppler Anemometry (LDA) data from literature. The calibration of RPT setup was done in two conditions: (a) stationary rotor and (b) rotor rotating at 200 rpm. The radiation intensity data recorded from measurement was analysed by Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test and found that intensity counts have statistically equal mean. Also, the percentage error between mean counts is less than 1.72. So calibration step in RPT setup can be done in rotor stationary condition which is useful for estimating fluid dynamical conditions inside the impeller region, which is not possible with any other instruments like PIV, LDA etc. Further, RPT experiments and CFD simulations were conducted and results were in good agreement with LDA data from literature. The classical flow pattern of a jet-like stream coming from impeller tip was observed from RPT and well predicted by the CFD model. CFD model predicted the mean velocities and the turbulent quantities in reasonably good manner in comparison with literature data.

KEYWORDS:

• Stirred tank
• Rushton Turbine (RT)
• RPT
• Analysis of Variance
• CFD

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge Board of Research in Nuclear Science (BRNS), Govt. of India for financial support. The authors are thankful to radioisotope application division, Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC), Mumbai, India and Department of Atomic Energy, Govt. of India, for providing radioisotope to conduct this work [Sanction no. 35/14/32/2014-BRNS,23 May 2014].

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences [35/14/32/2014-BRNS, 23 May 2014].