ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Effects of type and number of impellers and liquid viscosity on the power characteristics of mechanically agitated gas—liquid systems

R. Adamiak and J. Karcz

Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Szczecin University of Technology, PL-71 065 Szczecin, Poland

E-mail: joanka@ps.pl

Received: 1 April 2006  Revised: 14 July 2006  Accepted: 1 August 2006

Abstract: Effect of the type and number of high-speed impellers installed on a common shaft on the power characteristics was investigated in water and glucose solutions of different concentration. Different configurations of the Rushton or Smith turbines, pitched blade turbines, propeller, and A 315 impeller were tested. Measurements of power consumption were carried out within the transitional and turbulent regime of the fluid flow using the strain gauge method. Baffled agitated vessels with inner diameter of 0.288 m and 0.634 m were used for the experiments. Liquid height in the vessels was equal to the vessel diameter or it was twice higher. The relative power consumption was compared for different configurations of the impellers.

Keywords: mechanical agitation - gas—liquid systems - power characteristics - Newtonian liquid

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.2478/s11696-006-0089-6

Chemical Papers 61 (1) 16–23 (2007)