APPLICATION OF POWER

REQUIREMENT
 POWER REQUIREMENT

• For an effective mixing, the volume of fluid

circulated in a vessel via an impeller must be
sufficient to sweep out the entire vessel in a
reasonable time.

• Stream velocity leaving the impeller must be

sufficient to carry currents to the remotest
part of the vessel.
 FACTORS AFFECTING THE POWER
REQUIREMENT:
• Properties of fluid to be agitated

• Height of the liquid

• Tank size and dimensions

• Agitator type and size

• Speed of agitator
Terminology in Power Calculation
 Why Dimensionless Numbers?

Empirical correlations to estimate the power required to rotate a given

impeller at a give speed, with respect to other variables in system

• Measurements of tank and impeller

• Distance of impeller from tank floor

• Liquid depth

• Dimensions of baffles

• Viscosity, density, speed

Dimensionless Correlations
Not a predefined empirical equation to find out the power
requirement it will depend upon all factors described above
some unexpected problems.

In the power curve:

• Region A : Viscous range
• Region B : Transition range
• Region C : Turbulent region

The curve is drawn for 6 flat bladed turbine with height of the
liquid is equal to diameter of the vessel and vessel is having 4
baffles.
Power Curve for Turbine Type agitator
Curve A =
vertical blades,
W/Da = 0.2
Curve B =
vertical blades,
W/Da = 0.125
Curve C =
pitched blade
Curve D =
unbaffled tank
For unbaffled vessel:
 Example 1 :
• A flat-blade turbine with six blades is installed
centrally in a vertical tank. The tank is 1.83 m in
diameter, the turbine is 0.61 m in diameter & is
positioned 0.61 m from the bottom of the tank.
The turbine blades are 127mm wide. The tank is
filled to a depth of 1.83m with a solution of 50%
caustic soda at 65.6oC, which has a viscosity of
12cP and a density of 1498 kg/m3. The turbine is
operated at 90 rpm. What power will be required
to operate the mixer if the tank was baffled?
 EXAMPLE 2
• A solution of sodium hydroxide of density
1650 kg/m3 and viscosity 50 mN s/m2 is
agitated by a propeller mixer of 0.5 m
diameter in a tank of 2.28 m diameter, and the
liquid depth is 2.28 m. The propeller is
situated 0.5 m above the bottom of the tank.
What is the power which the propeller must
impart to the liquid for a rotational speed of 2
Hz?
SOLUTION
• In this problem the geometrical arrangement
corresponds with the configuration for which
the curves in Figure 7.6 are applicable.

• From Figure 7.6: