Application of Frame Motion and Mesh Motion Techniques for Determining the Hydrodynamic Torque of a Rushton Turbine
Michał Duda
a:1:{s:5:"en_US";s:71:"Uniwersytet Warmińsko-Mazurski w Olsztynie, Wydział Nauk Technicznych";}Wojciech Sobieski
Abstract
The article presents experimental and numerical studies of the torque of a Rushton turbine impeller operating in a cylindrical tank without partitions. The analyses were carried out on a laboratory scale for one system geometry and five impeller rotational speeds. Numerical calculations were performed using the Multiple Reference Frame (MRF) and Sliding Mesh (SM) methods in combination with the Volume of Fluid (VoF) model, with an analysis of the influence of mesh density performed prior to the main calculations. The simulations were performed in the ANSYS Fluent environment, while the experimental measurements were performed using the IKA EUROSTAR 60 control drive. The results obtained showed good qualitative agreement of the torque characteristics as a function of rotational speed, with simultaneous quantitative discrepancies consisting in obtaining higher torque values in numerical simulations compared to the experiment. These discrepancies may result from the limitations of the RANS approach in mapping global vortex motion and free surface deformation of the liquid, as well as from measurement uncertainties, which indicates further directions for research.
Keywords:
Rushton turbine, CFD, Multiple Reference Frame, Sliding Mesh, Volume of FluidSupporting Agencies
References
ALAM Z., KUMAR C., AVATAR K., MAZUMDAR D. 2022. Modeling of Fluid Flow and Bulk Liquid Mixing Phenomena in a Mechanically Agitated Ladle. Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B, 53(1): 304-319. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11663-021-02367-4
Crossref
Google Scholar
Ansys Fluent Theory Guide. 2022. Release 2022 R1, January 2022. Google Scholar
DELAFOSSE A., MORCHAIN J., GUIRAUD P., LINÉ A. 2009. Trailing vortices generated by a Rushton turbine: Assessment of URANS and large eddy simulations. Chemical Engineering Research and Design, 87(4): 401-411. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cherd.2008.12.018[MD7.1]
Crossref
Google Scholar
DERKSEN J.J. 2001. Assessment of large eddy simulations for agitated flows. Chemical Engineering Research and Design, 79(7): 824-830. https://doi.org/10.1205/02638760152721334
Crossref
Google Scholar
DESHPANDE S.S., KAR K.K., WALKER J., PRESSLER J., SU W. 2017. An experimental and computational investigation of vortex formation in an unbaffled stirred tank. Chemical Engineering Science, 168: 495-506. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2017.04.002
Crossref
Google Scholar
HARTMANN H., DERKSEN J.J., VAN DEN AKKER H.E.A. 2004. Macroinstability uncovered in a Rushton turbine stirred tank. AIChE Journal, 50(6): 1305-1315. https://doi.org/10.1002/aic.10211
Crossref
Google Scholar
KOYRO P.T., DE MOURA H.L., DE LIMA AMARAL R., DE LIMA E FREITAS L.F., BARBUTTI A.D., NUNHEZ J.R., DE CASTILHO G.J. 2022. Comparison of PIV measurements and OpenFOAM simulations of a stirred tank: study of the azimuthal position effect. Journal of the Brazilian Society of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering, 44: 421. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40430-022-03713-6
Crossref
Google Scholar
KYSELA B., KONFRŠT J., FOŘT I., CHÁRA Z. 2014. CFD Simulation of the Discharge Flow from Standard Rushton Impeller. International Journal of Chemical Engineering, 706149: 1-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/706149
Crossref
Google Scholar
PATIL H., PATEL A., PANT H., ANANTHULA V. 2018. CFD simulation model for mixing tank using multiple reference frame (MRF) impeller rotation. ISH Journal of Hydraulic Engineering, 27. https://doi.org/10.1080/09715010.2018.1535921
Crossref
Google Scholar
PHUMNOK E., SAETIAO P., BUMPHENKIATTIKUL P., RATTANAWILAI S., KHONGPROM P. 2024. CFD simulation of silica dispersion/natural rubber latex mixing for high silica content rubber composite production. RSC Advances, 14(18): 1-12. http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/D4RA01348D
Crossref
Google Scholar
PŁUSA T., TALAGA K., DUDA A., DUDA P. 2021. Modeling mixing dynamics in uncovered baffled and unbaffled stirred tanks. Chemical Engineering Research and Design, 169: 287-301. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cherd.2021.03.020
Crossref
Google Scholar
PRAKASH B., BHATELIA T., WADNERKAR D., SHAH M.T., PAREEK V.K., UTIKAR R.P. 2018. Vortex shape and gas–liquid hydrodynamics in unbaffled stirred tank. The Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, 97(6): 1913-1920. https://doi.org/10.1002/cjce.23433
Crossref
Google Scholar
SOBIESKI W. 2025. Challenges in Simulating Pollutant Behavior in Watercourses with Diverse Ecological and Structural Features. Journal of Applied Fluid Mechanics, 18(8): 1964-1979. https://doi.org/10.47176/jafm.18.8.3269
Crossref
Google Scholar
STREK F. 1971. Mieszanie i Mieszalniki (Mixing and Mixers). Wydawnictwo Naukowo-Techniczne, Warszawa. Google Scholar
TALAGA K., DUDA P. 2020. Identification of the liquid turbulent flow based on experimental methods. International Journal of Applied Fluid Mechanics, 13(6): 1903-1914. https://doi.org/10.47176/jafm.13.06.32791 Google Scholar
TAMBURINI A., GAGLIANO G., MICALE G., BRUCATO A., SCARGIALI F., CIOFALO M. 2018. Direct numerical simulations of creeping to early turbulent flow in unbaffled and baffled stirred tanks. Chemical Engineering Science, 192: 161–175. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2018.07.023[MD8.1]
Crossref
Google Scholar
TILL Z., MOLNÁR B., EGEDY A., VARGA T. 2019. CFD Based Qualification of Mixing Efficiency of Stirred Vessels. Periodica Polytechnica Chemical Engineering, 63(1): 226-238. https://doi.org/10.3311/PPch.12245
Crossref
Google Scholar
ZAMIRI A. 2017. Ability of URANS approach in prediction of unsteady turbulent flows in an unbaffled stirred tank. International Journal of Mechanical Sciences, 133: 178-187. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmecsci.2017.08.008
Crossref
Google Scholar
a:1:{s:5:"en_US";s:71:"Uniwersytet Warmińsko-Mazurski w Olsztynie, Wydział Nauk Technicznych";}
