3D periodical turbulent flow induced by a low shear hyperboloid stirrer in a fully baffled stirred tank reactor is experimentally studied at a constant Reynolds number, 5600, by using a diode fiber laser-Doppler anemometer. The ratio
D:
T:
H of the hyperboloid stirrer diameter,
D = 50 mm, the inner tank diameter,
T, and the filled fluid height,
H, is 1:3:3. Three low stands of hyperboloid stirrer clearance,
D/10,
D/7 and
D/5, are also targeted to evaluate influence on flow structure. The experimental results are applied to verification of CFD-code based on a standard
k–
ε model.
The flow field close to the hyperboloid stirrer is characterized by a series of vortex jets that are trailing periodically down within a radial extension of 0.5
D to 0.7
D. The maximum measured tangential velocity was 96% of the tip stirrer velocity. In this “near-of-flow area”, the kinetic energy is extensively dissipated itself due to impingement of velocity components. The axially-symmetric separation zone in the spatial form of
λ-character induces two large-scale vortices above and below the separation. A highly rated kinetic energy lies within the head stream of
λ-separation. Variation of the clearance at a factor less than
D/5 sensibly influences flow structure and kinetic energy distribution. It is considered that computing on a turbulent hyperboloid flow field based on a
k–
ε model at a relatively high Reynolds number may result in a discharge of kinetic energy induced within the “near-of area”.
View full abstract