International Symposium on Computational and Experimental Investigations on Fluid Dynamics

CEFD2013, March 18-20, 2013, Sfax, TUNISIA

Convex blades turbine effect on the hydrodynamic

structure of a stirred tank

Bilel Ben Amira *, Zied Driss, Mohamed Salah Abid

Laboratory of Electro-Mechanic Systems (LASEM), National School of Engineers of Sfax (ENIS), University of Sfax (US),
B.P. 1173, Road Soukra km 3.5, 3038 Sfax, TUNISIA

Abstract: This work is aimed in studying of the hydrodynamics structure in a cylindrical stirred vessel equipped by an eight convex
blades turbine. Flow fields were measured by two-dimensional particle image velocimetry (PIV) to evaluate the effect of the convex
blade turbine. Velocity field as well as axial and radial velocity distribution, roots mean squared velocity (rms), vorticity, turbulent
kinetic energy, dissipation rate of the turbulent kinetic energy and turbulent viscosity were presented. In addition, four differents
azimuthally plane were investigated. Therefore, two recirculation loops were formed close to the free surface and in the bottom of the
tank.

Key words: hydrodynamics structure, stirred vessel, convex blade turbine, PIV.

1. Introduction vessel generated with a six flat blades turbine in a PIV

technique was studied by Ben Amira et al. [2012].
Stirrer geometry and design in a mechanically agitated
Moreover, seeding particle mass quantity effect in the
tank has been studied over a wide range of design with
PIV measurement in a stirred vessel equipped by a
the goal to improve the agitation efficiency. Several
Rushton turbine was studied by Driss et al. [2012 a]. In
studies which have already been carried out which
addition, particle image velocimetry technique was used
were interested in enhancing the vessel property
to carry out the turbulent flow inside a cylindrical baffled
experimentally and numerically. In fact, the effect of
stirred vessel with a set of speed ranging from 100 rpm
removal of baffles, the impeller geometrical effects
to 350 rpm by Driss et al. [2012 b]. Furthermore, PIV
include pitch angle of blade, number of blades on
technique as also used to estimate the turbulence energy
energy efficiency and the impacts of solid
dissipation rate in a stirred vessel stirred by a Rushton
concentration and particle size on power consumption
turbine by Baldi et al. [2004]. As well, both experimental
were studied experimentally by Wang et al. [2012].
and numerical techniques were developed
Mixing time and pattern in the impeller-agitated
simultaneously. In fact, Cruz-Daz et al. [2012] modeled
vessel with two-bladed paddle were also
the operation of the FM01-LC reactor coupled with a
experimentally investigated at various mixing
continuous stirred tank (CST) in recirculation mode. Li
Reynolds numbers by Hashimoto et al. [2012]. Three
et al. [2011] used the large eddy simulation and the PIV
types of impellers generated in different liquid flow as
technique to calculate the velocity field generated by a
well as their position were used to investigate their
Rushton turbine. In-line high shear mixers (HSMs) with
influences on the kinetic parameters in a batch cooling
double rows of ultrafine inclined stator teeth were
crystallizer experimentally [Kacunic et al. 2012]. Laser
experimentally and numerically investigated under
energy effect on the hydrodynamics structure of a stirred
different rotor speeds and flow rates by Xu et al. [2013].
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Otherwise, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) cylindrical vessel was mounted in a squared vessel to
simulation were used to investigate the effects of decrease reflection which filled by water. The height
impeller configuration on fungal physiology and of the water is equal to the tank diameter (D=300
cephalosporin C production by an industrial strain mm). The turbine diameter is equal to the half of the
Acremonium chrysogenum in a bioreactor equipped with vessel diameter (T=D/2) and placed in the middle of
conventional and novel impeller configuration, the tank (figure 2). Four equally spaced baffles which
respectively [Yang et al. 2012]. Navier Stokes equation are placed 90 from one another were used. The
in conjunction with the RNG (Renormalization Group) rotation speed of the turbine is equal to N=70 rpm
of the k- turbulent model was used to study the which is equal to a Reynolds of Re=26250. In addition,
turbulent flow induced by the six flat blades turbine three azimuthally plane were investigated which
(FBT6), the Rushton turbine (RT6) and the pitched present the turbine blade plane (=30), the median
blades turbine (PBT6) in a stirred tanks by Ammar et al plane between two successive blades (=10), the
[2011]. Finite volume method was employed to solve the plane before the turbine blade plane (=20) and the
Navier-Stokes equations governing the transport of plane after the turbine blade plane (=40).
momentum to compare four different turbulence models
using for numerical simulation of the hydrodynamic
structure generated by a Rushton turbine in a cylindrical
tank by Chtourou et al. [2011]. A multiple impellers
were used in a stirred vessel to form the micro/nano drug
particle in the biopharmaceutical classification system by
Sanganwar et al. [2010].
According to the biography study, it has been noted
that the study of the stirred tank is interesting to improve
the hydrodynamic structure. In this paper, we are
interested to study the hydrodynamics structure in a
cylindrical stirred vessel equipped by an eight convex Fig. 1 Stirred tank equipped by
blades turbine. a convex blade turbine

2. Experiments apparatus 3. Experimental results

In this study, particle image velocimetry was used 3.1 Velociyt field
to study the hydrodynamics structure generated with
Figure 5 shows the velocity field of the convex
convex blade turbine in a stirred vessel. Figure 1 show
blade turbine. In fact, we present four different planes
the particle image velocimetry apparatus whish used
=10, =20, =30 and =40. According to these
in our system. In fact, the flow is illuminated by an
results, two circulation loops were observed, in which
Nd-YAG 532 nm green pulsed laser source generated in
the first one is localized in the upper region of the tank
2x30 mJ. The acquisition of the tow-dimensional
near the free surface and the second one is localized in
images data was taken with a CCD camera with 1600 x
the bottom of the tank. At the blade end, the velocity is
1200 pixels of resolutions. The results are obtained for
almost radial for the planes situated before and after the
170 images at three different azimuthally plane. The
blade plane. Nevertheless, the velocity has some
averge diameter of the seeding particle was equal to
deviation in the plane of the blade. Afterward, near the
dp=20 m with 0.15 g of concentration. The

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wall of the vessel, the velocity is divided into the
upward and downward flow. In addition, the maximum
velocity is localized at the end of the blade. Moreover,
the lowest mean velocity is presented in the plane of
the blade Vm=40.2 mm/s. However, the greatest mean
velocity is presented in the plane before the plane of the
blade Vm = 41.6 mm/s.
Vm=41.6 mm/s Vm=40 mm/s
the end of the turbine. The bulk region of the tank is
described with the lowest value. In addition, the
greatest radial velocity value is presented in the plane
before the plane of the blade. Otherwise, for the axial
velocity, the highest value region is localized at the
bottom of the tank close to the blade and beside the
wall of the tank above the blade. Then, two lowest
value regions were presented. In fact, the largest one is
localized close to the free surface, while the narrowed
one is localized beside the wall of the tank at the
bottom. In addition, the largest spread of the greatest
axial velocity value region on the bottom of the tank is
presented for an angular position equal to =30.

0.25
0.3

0.25 0.2

0.2
0.15

0.15
0.1

0.1
a) = 10 d) = 20 0.05
0.05
Vm=40.2 mm/s Vm=41.3 mm/s 0
0

-0.05
-0.05

a) = 10 d) = 20

0.15 0.15

0.1
0.1

0.05
0.05

b) = 30 c) = 40 0

-0.05

Fig. 5 Velocity field -0.05

3.2 Radial and axial velocity b) = 30 c) = 40

Figures 6 and 7 show the radial and the axial Fig. 6 Radial velocity
velocity distribution of the convex blade turbine. In
fact, we present four different planes =10, =20,
=30 and =40. According to these results, for the
radial velocity, the highest value region is localized at

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0.18
0.12
0.1 0.1
0.16

0.1
0.14
0.05 0.05

0.12
0.08

0 0 0.1

0.06
0.08
-0.05 -0.05
0.06
0.04

0.04
-0.1
-0.1
0.02
0.02

-0.15 0

a) = 10 d) = 20 a) = 10 d) = 20

0.1 0.1
0.1
0.1
0.09

0.08 0.08
0.05
0.05
0.07

0 0.06 0.06
0
0.05

-0.05 -0.05 0.04 0.04

0.03

-0.1 -0.1 0.02 0.02

0.01

-0.15 -0.15
0

b) = 30 c) = 40 b) = 30 c) = 40

Fig. 7 Axial velocity Fig. 8 Rms velocity

3.4 Rms Velocity 3.5 Vorticity

Figure 8 shows the roots mean velocity (rms) field
of the convex blade turbine. In fact, we present four
different planes defined by =10, =20, =30 and
=40. According to these results, the highest value
region is localized at the end of the turbine for all the
angular position. However, other highest value region
were found for the angular position equal to =20,
=30 and =40. In addition, the greatest rms
velocity value is presented in the median plane between
two successive blades =10.
Figure 9 shows the vorticity generated with of the
convex blade turbine. Four different planes=10,
=20, =30 and =40 has been presented.
According to these results, the bulk region of the tank is
presented with the medium vorticity value. Moreover,
the highest value area is localized in the upper region of
the tank which follows the same direction of the first
circulation loop. Thereby, the lowest value area is
localized in the inferior region of the tank which
follows the same direction of the second circulation
loop. The median plane between two successive blades
is described with the lowest and the highest vorticity
values (wmax=17.3 s-1, wmin=-15.7 s-1).

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17.3 s-1 7.7 s-1

0.08 0.04

0.07 0.035

0.06 0.03

0.05 0.025

0.8 s-1 -1.3 s-1 0.04 0.02

0.03 0.015

0.02 0.01

0.01 0.005

-1
-15.7 s -10.3 s -1
00

a) = 10 d) = 20 a) = 10 d) = 20
-1 -1 0.03
7.1 s 8.1 s

0.025
0.025

0.02 0.02

0.015
0.5 s-1 1.4 s-1 0.015

0.01 0.01

0.005 0.005

-6 s-1 -5.3 s-1 00

0
00
0

b) = 30 c) = 40 c) = 40 b) = 30

Fig. 9 Vorticity Fig. 10 Turbulent kinetic energy distribution

3.6 Turbulent kinetic energy 3.7 Dissipation rate of the turbulent kinetic energy

Figure 10 shows the distribution of the turbulent
kinetic energy of the convex blade turbine. Four
different planes =10, =20, =30 and =40 has
been presented. According to these results, the
turbulent kinetic energy is maximum at the blade tip
and decreases progressively moving away from the
blade. Furthermore, for the angular position equal to
=30 and =40, other maximum region were found
which localized above and under the blade with the
same direction of the circulation loop. In addition, the
greatest value of the turbulent kinetic energy is
presented in the median plane between two successive
blades defined by =10.
Figure 11 shows the distribution of the dissipation
rate of the turbulent kinetic energy of the convex blade
turbine. Four different planes =10, =20, =30
and =4 0 has been presented. According to these
results, the dissipation rate of the turbulent kinetic
energy is maximum at the blade tip and decreases
progressively moving away from the blade.
Furthermore, for the angular position equal to =30
and =40, other maximum region were found which
localized around the blade. In addition, the greatest
dissipation rate of the turbulent kinetic energy value is
presented in the median plane between two successive
blades defined by =10.

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0.035 12000
0.02
9000
0.018
0.03
8000 10000
0.016
7000
0.025
0.014
8000
6000
0.012
0.02
5000
0.01 6000

0.015 4000
0.008
4000
0.006 3000
0.01

0.004 2000
2000
0.005
0.002 1000

0 0

a) = 10 d) = 20 a. = 10 = 20
-3 4
) x 10 x 10 x 10
4
0.012 4 2
7
1.8
3.5
0.01
6 1.6
3
1.4
0.008 5
2.5
1.2
4
0.006 2 1

3 0.8
1.5
0.004
0.6
2
1
0.4
0.002
1
0.5
0.2

0 0 0 0

c) = 40 b) = 30 c. = 45 b. = 30

Fig. 11 Dissipation rate of the turbulent kinetic energy Fig. 12 Turbulent viscosity distribution
distribution
4. Conclusion
3.8 Turbulent viscosity
The objective of this paper is to investigate
experimentally the hydrodynamics structure of a
Figure 11 shows the distribution of the turbulent
convex blade turbine by the means of particle image
viscosity of the convex blade turbine. Four different
velocimety (PIV). In fact, four angular positions were
planes =10, =20, =30 and =40. According to
presented to investigate the velocity field and the
these results, the turbulent viscosity is maximum at the
energy performance of the vessel before the passage of
blade tip and decreases progressively moving away
the blade, after the passage of the blade and at the time
from the blade.
of the blade passage. Thereby, several results were
evaluated which contain velocity field, axial and radial
velocity distribution, roots mean squared velocity
(rms), vorticity, turbulent kinetics energy, dissipation
rate of the turbulent kinetics energy and turbulent
viscosity. Thus, two circulation loops were presented.
In the future we propose to investigate more complex
configurations.

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