1

TABLE OF CONTENT

Abstract 2
Introduction .. 3
Objectives . 4
Theory ... 4
Procedures . 7
Apparatus ... 8
Results .... 9
Sample of calculations .. 13
Discussions 14
Conclusions 15
Recommendations .. 16
Reference 16
Appendices . 17



2

ABSTRACT

For the first experiment we want to observe the flow patterns that can be achieved by the
use of different impellers with and without the use of baffles. Secondly, to show how the power
consumed by a mixer varies with speed, type of impeller and with the inclusion of baffles.
So to run this experiment we must follow the right steps. For the first experiment, Fluid
Mixing Apparatus filled with water up to a depth of 0.3m. Flat blade was used and the speed of
the impeller turned up with small increment say 100 rpm until the pallets are seen to swirl.
Observe the movement of the pallets and draw it. Repeat the experiment with the baffle. After
that, change the paddle with propeller and turbine impeller. Second experiment the tank filled
with oil and attached the flat paddle, 0.9 m x 0.06 m with the base of the bush level with the end
of the shaft. Release the balance adjustment clamp, and allow the dynamometer arm to move
freely. Adjust the length of the cord so that the indicator aligns with the mark on the datum plate
in the neutral position. Increase the speed control knob in gradual increments and record the
torque at each speed of the mixer. Repeat using turbine impeller. We can see the result get as in
the tabulated result section.









3

INTRODUCTION

Mixing of liquid-liquid or solid-liquid system is a complex operation to analyze and
subject to many variables. The choice of mixer for a particular application depends on the degree
of bulk movement or shear mixing required by the process. In order to predict full-scale
requirements, it is usual to model the system and apply dimensional analysis.
Before the dimensional analysis can be used, three conditions must apply:
Geometric similarity This will define the boundary conditions, corresponding
dimensions will have the same ratio.
Kinematics similarity This requires that velocities at corresponding points must have
the same ratio ac those at other corresponding points.
Dynamic similarity This requires that the ratio of forces at corresponding points is
equal to that at other corresponding points.
The modes of flow behavior exist in a mixer laminar and turbulent flow. Both these flow
conditions may be described dimensionally but for turbulent flow its behavior is less significant.
In particular, the power number becomes independent of Reynolds number beyond a certain
turbulence range.
A further factor to consider is surface waves, which are, describe by the Froude number
group. In a mixer this phenomena is usually function of the height of the vortex, which forms.
Arm field have developed a model mixer, which can be used to predict the power
consumption of a full-sized mixer by equating Reynolds number and Froude number. The effect
of placing baffles in the mixer vessel is also investigated.




4

OBJECTIVES

Experiment 1 : To observe various flow patterns that can be achieved by the use of
different impellers with and without baffles
Experiment 2 : To show how the power consumed by a mixer varies with speed, type of
impeller and with the inclusion of baffles.

THEORY

For vigorous agitation of thin suspensions, the tank is provided with baffles which flat
vertical strips set radially along the tanks wall as shown. Four baffles are almost always adequate.
A common baffle width is 1:10 to 1:12 of the tanks diameter. For Reynolds number greater than
10,000, baffles are commonly used with turbine impellers and with on-centerline axial-flow
impellers.
In the transition region (Reynolds number, from 10 to 10,000), the width of the Baffles
may be reduced, often to of standard width. If the circulation pattern is satisfactory when the
tank is without baffled but a vortex creates a problem, partial length baffles may be used. These
are standard width and extend downward from the surface into about 1/3 of the liquid volume.
In the region of laminar flow (NRe < 10), the same power is consumed by the impeller
whether baffles are present or not, and they are seldom required. The flow pattern may be
affected by the baffles but not always advantageously. When they are need, the baffles are
usually placed one or two widths radially, to allow fluid to circulate behind them and at same
time produce some axial deflection of flow.



5

Typical flow patterns achieved using a radial flow impeller & an axial flow impeller
POWER-SPEED CHARATERISTIC
Power (W) = Torque (t) angular speed (rads-1)
Torque (T) = Force recorded on spring balance length of torque arm (r)
3.1 Turbulent mixing
For low viscosity liquids, the bulk flow pattern in mixing vessels with rotating impellers
is turbulent. The inertia imparted to the liquid by the rotating, impeller is sufficient to cause the
liquid to circulate throughout the vessel and return to the impeller. Turbulent eddy diffusion
takes place throughout the vessel but is a maximum in the vicinity of the impeller. Eddy
diffusion is inherently much faster than molecular diffusion and, consequently, turbulent mixing
occurs much more rapidly than laminar mixing. Ultimately homogenization at the molecular
level depends on molecular diffusion, which takes place more rapidly in low viscosity liquids.
Mixing is most rapid in the region of the impeller because of the high shear rates due to the
presence of trailing vortices, generated by disc turbine impeller and associated Reynolds
furthermore, a high proportion is dissipated here.
Turbulent flow is complex, and calculation of the flow fields prevailing in a mixing
vessel is not amenable to rigorous theoretical treatment. If the Reynolds numbers of the main
flow is sufficiently high, some insight into the mixing process can be gained by using the theory
of local isotropic turbulence. Turbulent flow may be considered as a spectrum of velocity
fluctuations and eddies of different sizes superimposed on an overall time-averaged mean flow.
In a mixing- vessel, it is reasonable to suppose that the large primary eddies, of a size
corresponding approximately to the impeller diameter, would give rise to large velocity
fluctuations but would have a low frequency. Such eddies are an isotropic and account for the
bulk of the kinetic energy present in the system. Interaction between these primary eddies and
slow moving streams produces smaller eddies of higher frequency, which undergo further
disintegration until, finally, dissipate their energy as heat.
During the course of this disintegration process, kinetic energy is transferred from fast
moving large eddies to the smaller eddies. The description given here is a gross
6

oversimplification, but it does give a qualitative representation of the salient features of turbulent
mixing.
3.2 Laminar mixing

Laminar flow is usually associated with high viscosity liquids that may be either
Newtonian or non-Newtonian. The inertial forces therefore tend to die out quickly, and the
impeller of the mixer must cover a significant proportion of the cross-section of the vessel to
impart sufficient bulk motion. Because the velocity gradients close to the rotating impeller are
high, the fluid elements in that region deform and stretch. They repeatedly elongate and become
thinner each time the fluid elements pass through the high shear zone.













7

PROCEDURE

Experiment 1:
The flat blade impeller is attached with base of bush level with the end of the shaft. A small
quantity of plastic pellets is added and the torque arm clamp must be fixed. The speed of the
impeller is turned up in small increment; 100 rpm, until the water is swirl. A vortex will be seen
to form on the surface of water. A small quantity of plastic pellet is added to the water shows the
mixing pattern of the liquid.
Repeat the procedure with each impeller and again with the four baffles in position with each
impeller. The movement of pellets is observed for each case.

Experiment 2:
The tank is filled up to a depth of 0.3m with light oil and the flat paddle blade is attached,
0.09mx0.06m with the base of the bush level with the end of shaft. The speed of control knob is
increased in gradual increment and the speed on the speed indicator and the force on the force
meter at each speed of the mixer.
The experiment is repeated by using turbine and with or without baffles.







8

APPARATUS AND MATERIALS


1. Fluid mixing apparatus
2. Water
3. Light oil









9

RESULTS


Experiment 1: Flow patterns









With baffle Without baffle
Side view Top view Side view Top view
Flat blade





Turbine




Propeller





10

Experiment 2: Power-speed characteristic

POWER SPEED CHARACTERISTIC (WITH BAFFLES)
FLAT PADDLES BLADE
Angular
Speed, rpm
Angular
Speed,
( rads
-1
)
Force, F (N) Torque, T
(Nm)
Power, W
(Watts)
50 5.24 41.50 2.49 13.05
100 10.47 42.17 2.53 26.49
150 15.71 42.67 2.56 40.22
200 20.94 42.67 2.56 53.61
250 26.18 42.38 2.57 67.28
300 31.41 43.00 2.58 81.06
TURBINE
Angular
Speed, rpm
Angular
Speed,
(rads
-1
)
Force, F (N) Torque, T
(Nm)
Power, W
(Watts)
50 5.24 40.67 2.44 12.79
100 10.47 41.00 2.46 25.76
150 15.71 41.33 2.48 38.96
200 20.94 41.67 2.50 52.35
250 26.18 42.67 2.56 67.02
300 31.41 42.83 2.57 80.75

11

POWER SPEED CHARACTERISTIC (WITHOUT BAFFLES)
FLAT PADDLES BLADE
Angular
Speed, rpm
Angular
Speed,
(rads
-1
)
Force, F (N) Torque, T
(Nm)
Power, W
(Watts)
50 5.24 41.00 2.46 12.89
100 10.47 40.83 2.45 25.65
150 15.71 40.17 2.41 37.86
200 20.94 41.00 2.46 51.51
250 26.18 42.33 2.54 66.50
300 31.41 49.00 2.94 92.37
TURBINE
Angular
Speed, rpm
Angular
Speed,
(rads
-1
)
Force, F (N) Torque, T
(Nm)
Power, W
(Watts)
50 5.24 41.00 2.46 12.89
100 10.47 40.83 2.45 25.65
150 15.71 40.17 2.41 37.86
200 20.94 41.00 2.46 51.51
250 26.18 42.33 2.54 66.50
300 31.41 49.00 2.94 92.37




12

Graph Power vs Speed (with baffles)



Graph Power vs Speed (without Baffles)



0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
P
o
w
e
r

(
W
a
t
t
s
)

Speed (rads
-1
)
Flat Paddle blade
Turbine
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
P
o
w
e
r

(
W
a
t
t
s
)

Speed (rads
-1
)
Flat Paddle blade
Turbine
13



SAMPLE OF CALCULATIONS:

Flat Paddles Blade (With Baffles)

Angular speed, = rpm 2/60
=200 rpm 2/60
= 20.94rads
-1

Power, W = T
= 2.56 Nm x 20.94rads
-1

= 53.61 Watt
Force, F =

=



=42.67 N













14

DISCUSSION


There are a few discussions that we can make about this experiment. For the first
experiment we want to observe the flow pattern. Firstly, we use flat blade impeller with speed
100 rpm. We can see that the pallets going up and down rapidly when we used the baffle. The
pallets only move at the bottom of the tank and only a few of the pallet going up when the baffle
not use. Secondly, the used the turbine impeller with the speed 100 rpm. We can see that the
flow pattern here, the pallets move at the bottom of the tank and sometime a few pallets going up
with the use of baffle. Without baffle the pallets only move at the bottom of the tank and none of
the pallets going up. Thirdly, we use the propeller impeller with the speed 100 rpm. The flow
pattern of the pallets with the baffle is the pallets going up and down steadily. Without baffle the
pallets only move around at the bottom. The flow pattern with baffle and without baffle is
difference, because when the impeller rotate with the use of baffle there are a resistance created
and the flow pattern is disturb.
We can see here the flow pattern of the each impeller is difference. It is because the shape
of the impeller is different. The radius of the flow also difference. Radius for propeller is small,
radius for turbine is medium and for the flat blade impeller radius is large.
For the second experiment we want to show how the power consumed by a mixer varies
with speed, type of impeller and with the inclusion of baffles. Firstly we use flat blade paddle
impeller with baffle. We used different value of angular speed (rpm) and take the value of torque
(Nm) for each angular speed. Then we used turbine and take the readings of the torque for each
different angular speed. From the graph power vs speed (with baffles), we can see that the power
used when using flat paddles and turbine is the same with the increasing of speed. In theory the
turbine should consume less power than the flat paddles. So in our experiment there might be
some error occur while preparing the experiment. Then the experiment is repeated without using
baffles. The graph above shown the flat paddle is consuming more power than the turbine. So it
is true with the theory that flat paddles blade should consume more power.



15

CONCLUSIONS

For the conclusion, we can conclude that for each impeller that is propeller, flat blade,
and turbine its mixing fluid with the maximum performance with the baffle inside the tank
compared to the tank without baffle inside. It is because when we used the baffle its creating
resistance in the tank so it will disturb the flow of the water. In first experiment has showed that
inclusion of baffles will increase rate of mixing and kinetic energy of the atoms of fluid. So
mixing will become complete quickly. Different types of impeller have different types of flow
pattern and movement of pallets depends on speed and direction. Flat paddle has the high rate of
mixing because it mixes at all place in fluid compared with turbine and propeller.
For the experiment 2 we want to show how the power consumed by mixer varies with
speed, type of impeller and with the inclusion of baffles. So we plotted the graph like in the
tabulated result. In our experiment we get that for the flat blade impeller the power increased
with respect to the increases of speed. The power of flat blade impeller with baffle is bigger
compared to the flat blade impeller without baffle. For the turbine impeller with baffle we get the
power is bigger compared to the turbine impeller without baffle. We have calculated power
consumed with different impellers and flat blade paddle has highest power consumed because of
its surface area that contacted with fluid. Inclusion of baffles will consume higher power because
it increases the kinetic energy to be overcome and it has destroyed vortex of fluid.












16

RECOMMENDATIONS


There are a few recommendations to make sure that our results are more accurate. Firstly,
we must make sure that the apparatus in a good condition. The experiment must be repeated
for three times to get an accurate reading and record the average readings. Secondly, the
pallets must be made bigger so that the pallets wont be stuck at the drainage pipe.





REFERENCES


1. UiTM Chemical Engineering Lab Manual 2014, Fluid Mixing Apparatus
2. Frank M.W, Fluid Mechanics ninth edition, McGraw-Hill.2005
3. Warren M, Peter H and Julian C.S, Unit operation of Chemical Engineering, 4
th

edition, Mcgraw Hill Book Company. 2002












17

APPENDICES