CDB 2052

Chemical Engineering Laboratory I

May 2018

Experiment : 06 – Fluid Mixing

Group : 02
Group members : Amelia Malini (16002008)
Sanjeev Nehru (16001174)
Yanni Adriana (16002252)
Naomi Mohd Kifli (16000800)
Lab Instructor : Nor Faizatulfitri
Date of Experiment : 19th July 2018
Chapter 1: Summary and Objective
Chapter 2: Methodology/ Experimental Procedures
 Chapter 3: Results & Discussion

EXPERIMENT 6a: Type of impeller

Table 6.1 : Observation for Hub Mounted Flat Blade Impeller at various motor speeds

Speed of the
motor 100 300 500
(RPM)

Observation

Swirling of red beads. Swirling of red beads. Swirling of red beads.

The red beads are clumped
together in the middle of the
tank.
Description
The speed of the red beads is
slow and steady.
The red beads are now further
apart from each other as there
is a noticeable gap formed in
the middle of them.
The speed of the red beads is
moderate.
The red beads are scattered
even further towards the tank
wall. A larger gap is formed in
the middle of the red beads.
The speed of the red beads is
fast.

No vortex is formed. Vortex formed at the top of Vortex formed at the top of
the tank is thin (small the tank is larger and longer.
diameter) and short.
Formation of bubbles.

Loud sound
 Table 6.2 : Observation for Disc Mounted Flat Blade Impeller at various motor speeds

Speed of the
motor 100 300 500
(RPM)

Observation

Swirling of red beads. Swirling of red beads. Swirling of red beads.

The red beads are clumped
together in the middle of the
tank.
Description
The speed of the red beads is
slow and steady.
No vortex is formed.
The red beads are now further
apart from each other as there
is a noticeable gap formed in
the middle of them.
The speed of the red beads is
moderate.
Vortex formed at the top of
the tank is wide (large
diameter) and short.
The red beads are scattered
further towards the tank wall.
A larger gap is formed in the
middle of the red beads.
The speed of the red beads is
fast.
Vortex formed at the top of
the tank is larger and longer.
 Table 6.3 : Observation for Shrouded Flat Blade Impeller at various motor speeds

Speed of the
motor 100 300 500
(RPM)

Observation

Swirling of red beads. Swirling of red beads. Swirling of red beads.

The red beads are clumped
together in the middle of the
tank.
Description
The speed of the red beads is
slow and steady.
No vortex is formed.
The red beads are now further
apart from each other as there
is a noticeable gap formed in
the middle of them.
The speed of the red beads is
moderate.
Vortex formed at the top of
the tank is thin (small
diameter) and short.
The red beads are scattered
even further towards the tank
wall. A larger gap is formed in
the middle of the red beads.
The speed of the red beads is
fast.
Vortex formed at the top of
the tank is larger and longer.
Formation of bubbles.

Loud sound.
 EXPERIMENT 6b: Baffle Installation

Table 6.4 : Observation for Hub Mounted Flat Blade Impeller at various motor speeds (with Baffle)
Speed of the
motor 100 300 500
(RPM)

Observation

Red beads do not swirl in a
circular motion instead they
remain motionless on the tank
floor.
Description Red beads are far apart.
Red beads are scattering
randomly around the tank
floor.
Top of water surface is
slightly wavy.
Red beads are scattering
randomly in all directions
even on top of the impeller.
Top of water surface is very
wavy.

No vortex is formed. No vortex is formed. No vortex is formed.

 EXPERIMENT 6c: Impeller Shaft Position

Table 6.5 : Observation for Hub Mounted Flat Blade Impeller at various heights (300 RPM)

Impeller
height (cm) 5 15 25

Observation

Swirling of red beads. Swirling of red beads. Swirling of red beads.

Red beads are scattering
everywhere, some even go on
top of the impeller.
Description
Vortex formed on top of the
tank is short and thin.
The red beads are
concentrated in the middle of
the tank and there is
noticeable gap formed in the
middle of the beads.
Vortex formed at the top of
the tank is short and thin.
The red beads are
concentrated in the middle of
the tank and there is
noticeable gap formed in the
middle of the beads.
Ripples are formed at the top
of water surface.

Vortex formed at the same

position as impeller.

Formation of bubbles near the

vortex.

Discussion:
EXPERIMENT 6a: Type of Impeller
In this experiment, three different types of impellers: Hub Mounted Flat Blade, Disc Mounted Flat Blade
and Shrouded Flat Blade were studied to determine how their distinct design features affected flow
characteristics in a stirred vessel.

EXPERIMENT 6b: Baffle Installation

In this experiment, a baffle is installed in the tank in order to study the effect of installing a baffle on the
fluid mixing pattern. The height of the impeller is fixed at 15cm and the Hub Mounted Flat Plate
Impeller is used. Motor speeds of 100RPM, 300 RPM and 500 RPM are used and the respective
observations for each speed are recorded.

Baffles are long flat plates attached to the interior of the tank and protrude inward to prevent swirling of
a fluid and induce top to bottom flow pattern [1]. The protruding structures of the baffles disrupts the
flow of the mixture thus preventing it from forming a vortex. Since the tank being used in this
experiment is cylindrical in shape, the fluid will tend to swirl and vortex [2]. Swirling and formation of
vortexes are undesired mixing patterns as they result in the spinning of particles around the tank without
any mixing taking place [1]. In order to achieve efficient mixing, there should be a combination of both
axial mixing (up and down flow) and radial mixing (side to side flow).

From Table 6.4, the results show that when a baffle is installed, there is no formation of vortex and no
swirling motion of the red beads regardless of the motor speed used. This is due to the installation of the
baffle and can be explained by the geometry of the baffle itself that promotes axial mixing (top to
bottom circulation), inhibits swirling and results in a greater radial mixing [3].

The results in Table 6.4 also show that as the RPM increases, so does the speed and the scattering of the
red beads. When the motor speed is at 500RPM, the red beads scatter randomly in all directions even
exceeding the height of the impeller. This top to bottom motion of red beads indicates that axial mixing
is taking place due to the installation of the baffle.

Hence, the results show that installing a baffle significantly affects the fluid mixing pattern and can be
used to increase the efficiency of mixing.
EXPERIMENT 6c: Position of Impeller
The objective of this experiment is to study the effect of the impeller shaft position on the mixing
pattern. In this experiment, the height of the impeller is varied by first using a height of 5cm followed by
15cm and lastly 25cm.

If too low (5cm) = some of particles will get stuck under the impeller blade and will not be able to mix
well
Optimal impeller height = 1/3 of tank height
If too high (25cm) = causes vortexing, pulls surface of liquid beneath the impeller
Chapter 4: Conclusion
 References

References

[1] S. Peters, "Introduction To Mixer Impellers & Flow Patterns," Crane Engineering, 10 June 2015. [Online].
Available: https://blog.craneengineering.net/introduction-mixer-impellers-flow-patterns.

[2] B. James, "How Baffle Configuration Can Optimize Industrial Mixing," Dynamix Agitators, 19 October 2012.
[Online]. Available: http://www.dynamixinc.com/baffled-by-baffles.

[3] "Using Baffles for Tank Mixing Applications," Polyprocessing Solutions, [Online]. Available:
https://blog.polyprocessing.com/blog/using-baffles-for-tank-mixing-applications.

Appendix