CFD simulation of particle suspension in a stirred tank--颗粒学报PARTICUOLOGY

Qi, N., Zhang, H., Zhang, K., Xu, G., & Yang, Y. (2013). CFD simulation of particle suspension in a stirred tank. Particuology, 11(3), 317–326. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.partic.2012.03.003

CFD simulation of particle suspension in a stirred tank

Nana Qi ^a, Hu Zhang ^b, Kai Zhang ^a *, Gang Xu ^a, Yongping Yang ^a

a State Key Laboratory of Alternate Electrical Power System with Renewable Energy Sources, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
b School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia

10.1016/j.partic.2012.03.003

Volume 11, Issue 3, June 2013, Pages 317-326

Received 8 March 2011, Accepted 19 January 2012, Available online 9 April 2012.

E-mail: kzhang@ncepu.edu.cn

Highlights

► Flow pattern, power number, and particle behavior in a stirred tank driven by Smith turbine is captured by CFD simulation.

► Power number increases with increasing initial solid loading, and then becomes nearly constant.

► The effect of density or diameter on particle suspension is mitigated in more viscous liquid.

► A reactor with a contoured bottom is suggested to avoid accumulation of particles at reactor bottom.

Abstract

Particle suspension characteristics are predicted computationally in a stirred tank driven by a Smith turbine. In order to verify the hydrodynamic model and numerical method, the predicted power number and flow pattern are compared with designed values and simulated results from the literature, respectively. The effects of particle density, particle diameter, liquid viscosity and initial solid loading on particle suspension behavior are investigated by using the Eulerian–Eulerian two-fluid model and the standard k–ɛ turbulence model. The results indicate that solid concentration distribution depends on the flow field in the stirred tank. Higher particle density or larger particle size results in less homogenous distribution of solid particles in the tank. Increasing initial solid loading has an adverse impact on the homogeneous suspension of solid particles in a low-viscosity liquid, whilst more uniform particle distribution is found in a high-viscosity liquid.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Stirred tank; Smith turbine; Particle suspension; CFD simulation

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