Optimization of the Operating and Design Conditions to Reduce the Power Consumption in a Vessel Stirred by a Paddle Impeller

Authors

  • Houari Ameur
    Affiliation

    Institute of Science and Technology, University Center Salhi Ahmed, Ctr Univ Naâma, PB 66, 45000, Algeria

  • Youcef Kamla
    Affiliation

    Department of Science and Technology, Faculty of Technology, University Hassiba Ben Bouali of Chlef, Algeria

  • Djamel Sahel
    Affiliation

    Department of Technical Sciences, University Amar Thilidji of Laghouat, Algeria

https://doi.org/10.3311/PPme.12372

Abstract

Design of the impeller blade is a determining factor in power consumption and mixing quality, which determines consequently the cost of the mixing operation. This study explores the flow patterns and the power required for stirring a Newtonian fluid by paddle impellers. Investigations are carried out via three dimensional (3D) numerical simulations. Effects of the blade curvature, blade diameter, blade number and Reynolds number are analyzed. The curved blade is found to be more efficient to reduce the power consumption, compared with the straight blade. A new correlation is proposed for predicting the power required with two-curved-bladed impellers. The straight and very large blade creates a dead zone in the space between the blade tip and the vertical wall of vessel. This issue may be overcome by the curved blade, which increases consequently the well-mixed region size. A wider well-mixed region may be obtained with the larger curved blade, but with an additional energy cost.

Keywords:

impeller design, flow patterns, power consumption, curvedblade, paddle impeller

Published Online

2018-09-17

How to Cite

Ameur, H., Kamla, Y., Sahel, D. “Optimization of the Operating and Design Conditions to Reduce the Power Consumption in a Vessel Stirred by a Paddle Impeller”, Periodica Polytechnica Mechanical Engineering, 62(4), pp. 312–319, 2018. https://doi.org/10.3311/PPme.12372

Issue

Section

Articles