Kenics static mixers(KSM)are extensively used in industrial mixing-reaction processes by virtue of high mixing efficiency,low power homogenization and easy continuous production.Resolving liquid droplet size and its d...Kenics static mixers(KSM)are extensively used in industrial mixing-reaction processes by virtue of high mixing efficiency,low power homogenization and easy continuous production.Resolving liquid droplet size and its distribution and thus revealing the dispersion characteristics are of great significance for structural optimization and process intensification in the KSM.In this work,a computational fluid dynamics-population balance model(CFD-PBM)coupled method is employed to systematically investigate the effects of operating conditions and structural parameters of KSM on droplet size and its distribution,to further reveal the liquid-liquid dispersion characteristics.Results indicate that higher Reynolds numbers or higher dispersed phase volume fractions increase energy dissipation,reducing Sauter mean diameter(SMD)of dispersed phase droplets and with a shift in droplet size distribution(DSD)towards smaller size.Smaller aspect ratios,greater blade twist and assembly angles amplify shear rate,leading to smaller droplet size and a narrower DSD in the smaller range.The degree of impact exerted by the aspect ratio is notably greater.Notably,mixing elements with different spin enhance shear and stretching efficiency.Compared to the same spin,SMD becomes 3.7-5.8 times smaller in the smaller size range with a significantly narrower distribution.Taking into account the pressure drop and efficiency in a comprehensive manner,optimized structural parameters for the mixing element encompass an aspect ratio of 1-1.5,a blade twist angle of 180°,an assembly angle of 90°,and interlaced assembly of adjacent elements with different spin.This work provides vital theoretical underpinning and future reference for enhancing KSM performance.展开更多
The present study is concerned with the computational fluid dynamics(CFD)simulation of turbulent dispersion of immiscible liquids,namely,water–silicone oil and water–benzene through Kenics static mixers using the Eu...The present study is concerned with the computational fluid dynamics(CFD)simulation of turbulent dispersion of immiscible liquids,namely,water–silicone oil and water–benzene through Kenics static mixers using the Eulerian–Eulerian and Eulerian–Lagrangian approaches of the ANSYS Fluent 16.0 software.To study the droplet size distribution(DSD),the Eulerian formulation incorporating a population balance model(PBM)was employed.For the Eulerian–Lagrangian approach,a discrete phase model(DPM)in conjunction with the Eulerian approach for continuous phase simulation was used to predict the residence time distribution(RTD)of droplets.In both approaches,a shear stress transport(SST)k-ωturbulence model was used.For validation purposes,the simulated results were compared with the experimental data and theoretical values for the Fanning friction factor,Sauter mean diameter and the mean residence time.The reliability of the computational model was further assessed by comparing the results with the available empirical correlations for Fanning friction factor and Sauter mean diameter.In addition,the influence of important geometrical and operational parameters,including the number of mixing elements and Weber number,was studied.It was found that the proposed models are capable of predicting the performance of the Kenics static mixer reasonably well.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(22078278)Hunan Innovative Talent Project(2022RC1111)+2 种基金Hunan Provincial Education Bureau Foundation(22A0131)Hunan Province Higher Education Key Laboratory of Green Catalysis and Industrial Reaction Process IntensificationFurong Plan Provincial Enterprise Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Team.
文摘Kenics static mixers(KSM)are extensively used in industrial mixing-reaction processes by virtue of high mixing efficiency,low power homogenization and easy continuous production.Resolving liquid droplet size and its distribution and thus revealing the dispersion characteristics are of great significance for structural optimization and process intensification in the KSM.In this work,a computational fluid dynamics-population balance model(CFD-PBM)coupled method is employed to systematically investigate the effects of operating conditions and structural parameters of KSM on droplet size and its distribution,to further reveal the liquid-liquid dispersion characteristics.Results indicate that higher Reynolds numbers or higher dispersed phase volume fractions increase energy dissipation,reducing Sauter mean diameter(SMD)of dispersed phase droplets and with a shift in droplet size distribution(DSD)towards smaller size.Smaller aspect ratios,greater blade twist and assembly angles amplify shear rate,leading to smaller droplet size and a narrower DSD in the smaller range.The degree of impact exerted by the aspect ratio is notably greater.Notably,mixing elements with different spin enhance shear and stretching efficiency.Compared to the same spin,SMD becomes 3.7-5.8 times smaller in the smaller size range with a significantly narrower distribution.Taking into account the pressure drop and efficiency in a comprehensive manner,optimized structural parameters for the mixing element encompass an aspect ratio of 1-1.5,a blade twist angle of 180°,an assembly angle of 90°,and interlaced assembly of adjacent elements with different spin.This work provides vital theoretical underpinning and future reference for enhancing KSM performance.
文摘The present study is concerned with the computational fluid dynamics(CFD)simulation of turbulent dispersion of immiscible liquids,namely,water–silicone oil and water–benzene through Kenics static mixers using the Eulerian–Eulerian and Eulerian–Lagrangian approaches of the ANSYS Fluent 16.0 software.To study the droplet size distribution(DSD),the Eulerian formulation incorporating a population balance model(PBM)was employed.For the Eulerian–Lagrangian approach,a discrete phase model(DPM)in conjunction with the Eulerian approach for continuous phase simulation was used to predict the residence time distribution(RTD)of droplets.In both approaches,a shear stress transport(SST)k-ωturbulence model was used.For validation purposes,the simulated results were compared with the experimental data and theoretical values for the Fanning friction factor,Sauter mean diameter and the mean residence time.The reliability of the computational model was further assessed by comparing the results with the available empirical correlations for Fanning friction factor and Sauter mean diameter.In addition,the influence of important geometrical and operational parameters,including the number of mixing elements and Weber number,was studied.It was found that the proposed models are capable of predicting the performance of the Kenics static mixer reasonably well.