Abstract
A blend time investigation for stirred tanks was conducted to study the effect of impeller type (A310 Hydrofoil, Pitched-Blade Turbine, Rushton Turbine), impeller diameter (D/T = 1/5, 1/3, and 1/2), and impeller off-bottom distance (C/T = 1/5, 1/3, and 1/2) while considering tank diameter (T = 0.80 and 1.22 m) and mean specific energy dissipation (ε = 0.005 and 0.010 W/kg) for turbulent Newtonian fluids with square batch aspect ratios. The response of conductivity probes to the injection of a sodium chloride tracer was monitored to experimentally measure blend time for 108 unique setups. The results of the blend time experiments were recorded, analyzed to determine trends, compared to a well-established correlation, and fit to generate modified correlations. A modified turbulent blend time correlation capable of predicting statistically similar blend time for 99% of experimental setups is proposed as a function of tank diameter, impeller diameter, impeller off-bottom distance, textbook values of impeller power number, and impeller rotational frequency.
Library of Congress Subject Headings
Newtonian fluids--Mathematical models; Mixing--Fluid dynamics--Mathematical models
Publication Date
11-2017
Document Type
Thesis
Student Type
Graduate
Degree Name
Mechanical Engineering (MS)
Department, Program, or Center
Mechanical Engineering (KGCOE)
Advisor
Edward Hensel
Advisor/Committee Member
Risa Robinson
Advisor/Committee Member
Steven Day
Recommended Citation
Strand, Aaron, "Investigation of Blend Time for Turbulent Newtonian Fluids in Stirred Tanks" (2017). Thesis. Rochester Institute of Technology. Accessed from
https://repository.rit.edu/theses/9686
Campus
RIT – Main Campus
Plan Codes
MECE-MS