A CFD Modeling Examining the Distance between Propellers in a Mixing Tank Equipped with Two Propellers Using FLUENT Software

Abstract

Abstract In this paper, a three-dimensional (3D) simulation of turbulent flow in stirred tanks with a mechanical stirrer is investigated by Fluent software. The stirrer used in this tank is a PBT turbine type with an angle of 45°, which spreads the flow radially and axially. In this study, the RNG k-ε model is used for simulation. Also, the effect of the distance between two propellers has been investigated in baffled agitator tanks equipped with two propellers. For this purpose, two tanks with baffled stirrers, in which the distance between the two impellers and the distance of the lower impeller from the bottom of the tank are different (150 mm and with a shaft height of 495 mm) have been examined, and compared. But the distance of the lower turbine from the bottom of the tank and the distance between the two turbines in the two tanks are different. The stirrer used in both tanks is PBT type. In general, this research aims to compare the effect of the distance between two turbines on axial, radial, and angular velocities, the kinetic energy of turbulence (k), and the magnitude of velocity in different places in two investigated tanks. Also, the analysis of numerical results in speed contour, turbulence intensity and speed vector has been investigated.