ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION

This Liquid Mixing Equipment (Model: FM 103) is a bench-top unit designed for
laboratory experiments on solid/liquid and liquid/liquid mixing. Student will be able
to study the factors affecting mixing using visualization and measurement
techniques.

THEORY
The unit consists of mainly a perspex cylindrical mixing vessel and a variable speed
mixer system. The mixer system consists of a mixer controller and mixer head. The
mixer controller can be easily set-up for a desired combination of mixer run time,
speed, and maximum or minimum torque limits. When the preset high or low torque
value is reached, the mixer will be stopped automatically to prevent over or under
mixing. The mixing vessel incorporates a drain tap and a removable set of baffles.
The unit has been designed for easy removal and installation of different types of
impellers. The unit comes complete with a range of impellers including a propeller,
turbine and various flat blade paddles. The unit allows students to vary the mixer
speed, set the torque limits or measure differential torque. Digital display on the
mixer controller allows students to monitor the mixer speed and the torque. A timer
is provided to mix material at constant time interval. The system maintains speed
despite changes in viscosity and power.
Mixing is a common operation in the process industries and is generally performed
by a rotating impeller in a vessel. Products obtained from food, petroleum, mining,
pharmaceutical, pulp and paper, and chemical industries would not be available
without fluid mixing equipment and technology. Mixing also plays a vital role in
industries waste treatment and in environmental cleaning, such as in sulfur dioxide
absorption for treatment of acid rain.
Mixing situations can be found in practice, which may involve high, or low viscosity
fluids, suspending solids and liquids, dispersing gas or liquids. Mixing operation at
the industrial level are increasingly carried out at low to moderate Reynolds
numbers, leading to segregated or dead region and resulting in long mixing times.
The simplest way used to improve mixing efficiency consists of increasing the
rotational speed, which unfortunately leads to higher energy consumption. Mic-xing
times in small scale stirred tanks are commonly measured by non-instrusive
techniques such as calorimetry.

OBJECTIVES
Firstly, to observe the various 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.
THEORY
APPARATUS

Experiment 1:
Fluid Mixing Apparatus filled with water up to a depth of 0.3m, flat paddle and turbine impellers,
screw propeller, set of baffles, plastic pellets.

Experiment 2:
Fluid Mixing Apparatus filled with medium or light oil up to a depth of 0.3m, flat paddle and
turbine impellers, screw propeller, set of baffles, plastic pellets

PROCEDURES
Experiment 1:
1. The tank was filled up with water to a depth of 0.3m and the flat paddle was attached
with the base of bush level with the end of the shaft.
2. A small quantity of plastic pellets was added to show the mixing pattern of liquid and was
foxed the torque arm clamp.
3. The speed of the impeller was turned up in small increment: say 25 rpm until the pellets
are seen to swirl around in the water.
4. A vortex will be seen to form on the surface of the water.
5. The step procedure was repeated with each impeller with the four baffles in position with
each impeller.
6. The movement of dye and pellets was observed in each case.
7. This experiment was repeated by using turbine impellers and screw propeller with the
inclusion of baffles.
Experiment 2:
1. The oil was filled up to a depth of 0.3m and the flat paddle impeller was attached with
the base of the bush level with the end of the shaft.
2. The speed of the control knob was increased in gradual increments and the speed on
the speed indicator and the force on the forcemeter were recorded at each speed of the
mixer.
3. The experiment is repeated by using turbine impellers and screw propeller with the
inclusion of baffles.

RESULT
Experiment 1
Table 1: Different impeller + Without baffles (water)
Types of impeller
Flat paddle

Speed (rpm)
25
45
65

Torque, (Nm-2)
2.40
2.42
2.44

Turbine impeller

25
45
65

2.30
2.33
2.37

Flow pattern
swirl faster
plastic
pellets move
in clockwise
swirl move
slowly

Screw propeller

25
45
65

3.20
3.24
3.28

Plastic pellet
move in
clockwise
swirl very
fast
Plastic
pellets move
in clockwise
direction

Type of Impeller

Angular speed
( RPM)

Angular speed
(rad/s)

Force
(N)

Torque
( Nm-2 )

Power
(Watt)

Flat paddle

25
45
65
25
45
65
25
45
65

2.62
4.71
6.81
2.62
4.71
6.81
2.62
4.71
6.81

0.0140
0.0141
0.0142
0.0134
0.0136
0.0138
0.0186
0.0189
0.0191

2.59
2.61
2.63
2.48
2.51
2.56
3.45
3.50
3.54

6.786
12.293
17.910
6.498
11.822
17.434
9.039
16.485
24.107

Turbine impeller

Screw propeller

Power versus Speed

30
25
20
Power,watts

flat paddle

15

turbine impeller
screw impeller

10
5
0
2

speed ,(rad/s)

Graph 1: Power against speed without baffle by using water

Table 2: Different impeller + baffles (water)
Types of impeller
Flat paddle

Speed (rpm)
25
45
65

Torque, (Nm-2)
3.70
3.76
3.81

Screw propeller

25
45
65

3.21
3.18
3.09

Turbine impeller

25
45
65

3.60
3.62
3.64

Table 3: Different impeller + baffles (water)

Flow pattern
swirl very
fast
plastic
pellets not
move in
clockwise
swirl move
slowly
Plastic pellet
not move in
clockwise
swirl faster
Plastic
pellets not
move in
clockwise
direction

Types
impeller

Speed, rpm

Flat paddle

25
45
65
25
45
65
25
45
65

Screw
propeller
Turbine
impeller

Angular
speed,
(rad/s)
2.62
4.71
6.81
2.62
4.71
6.81
2.62
4.71
6.81

Force, F
(N)

Torque,
(Nm-2)

0.0215
0.0219
0.0222
0.0187
0.0185
0.0180
0.0210
0.0211
0.0212

3.99
4.06
4.11
3.46
3.43
3.33
3.88
3.91
3.93

Power, P
(watts)
10.454
19.123
27.989
9.065
16.155
22.677
10.166
18.416
26.763

Power against Speed

30
25
20
Power, watts

Flat paddle

15

turbine impeller
screw propeller

10
5
0
2

Speed, rpm

Graph 2: Power against speed with baffle by using water

Experiment 2
Table 3: Different impeller + without baffles (Oil)
Types
impeller

Angular
speed, rpm

Flat Paddle

100
200
300
100
200
300
100
200
300

Turbine
impeller
Screw
Propeller

Angular
speed,
(rad/s)
10.47
20.94
31.42
10.47
20.94
31.42
10.47
20.94
31.42

Force, F
(N)

Torque,
(Nm-2)

Power, P
(watts)

0.0188
0.0195
0.0206
0.0199
0.0201
0.0207
0.0200
0.0204
0.0210

3.49
3.62
3.81
3.68
3.72
3.83
3.72
3.78
3.88

36.54
75.80
119.71
38.53
77.90
120.34
38.95
79.15
121.91

Power against Speed

140
120
100
Flat paddle

80
Power,watts

turbine impeller

60

screw propeller

40
20
0
5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Speed, rpm

Graph 3: Power against speed without baffle by using oil

Table 4: Different impeller + with baffles (Oil)

Types
impeller

Angular
speed, rpm

Screw
propeller

100
200
300
100
200
300
100
200
300

Turbine
impeller
Flat paddle

Angular
speed,
(rad/s)
10.47
20.94
31.42
10.47
20.94
31.42
10.47
20.94
31.42

Force, F
(N)

Torque,
(Nm-2)

Power, P
(watts)

0.0199
0.0203
0.0206
0.0201
0.0203
0.0204
0.0217
0.0228
0.0241

3.70
3.76
3.81
3.73
3.75
3.78
4.01
4.23
4.47

38.74
78.73
119.71
39.05
78.53
118.77
41.98
88.58
140.45

Power against Speed

160
140
120
100
Power,watts

Flat paddle

80

Turbine impeller

60

screw propeller

40
20
0
5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Speed,rpm

Graph4: Power against Speed with the baffle by using oil

SAMPLE CALCULATION
Area of flat paddle impeller = 0.09m x 0.06m
= 0.0054 m
Torque arm radius = 0.11m
Torque (T) = Balance reading x 9.81 (Newtons) x torque arm radius (m)
= 3.23 X 9.81 X 0.11
= 3.49 N/m-2

Angular speed = rpm x (2 / 60)

= 100 rpm x 2 (3.142) / 60
= 10.47 rad/s
Force (N) = N/m (torque) x m (area of flat paddle)
= 3.49 x 0.0054
= 0.0188 N
Power (W) = Torque (T) x Angular Speed (rad/s)
= 3.23 x 10.47
= 6.79 watts

DISCUSSION

In the experiment 1, the objective is to observe the flow of pattern of the fluid in the
mixer with different impeller and with or without the baffle. The effect flow was obviously
different when the baffle is used or without baffle
When the baffle is set up, the flow pattern seems to swirl, rotate strongly and also in
stagnant direction. The highest torque and power recorded was by using flat plate impeller
which is 4.11 Nm-2 and 27.989 watts. But all impeller will give different rotation which due to
the speeds rotation.

While without baffles, the flow is smoothly and in clockwise direction and its obtained
the highest Torque for screw propeller is 3.54 Nm-2. The lowest is turbine impeller which is
torque is 2.48 Nm-2 and the power that is recorded is 6.498 W.
In the experiment 2, the objective is to show how the power consumed by a mixer varies
with speed, type of impeller, and with the inclusion of baffles. But there using different type of
fluid which is oil that have higher viscosity compares with water. The experiment was used
higher speed which is 100, 200 and 300 rpm. It was to observe the difference due to its viscosity.
Second experiment is using different type of fluid which is oil with higher viscosity than
water. This time, higher RPM is used which are 100, 200 and 300 rpm to observe the difference
effect due to its viscosity. It conducts in two types which is without baffle and with baffle.
Without baffle the screw propeller obtained the highest torque and power. The value is 3.88Nm-2
and the power is 121.91 W with the 300 rpm. Next, with baffle there obtained the flat paddle
impeller with highest value of torque and power which is 4.47 Nm-2 and 140.45 W. While the
lowest torque and power is referred to screw propeller which is 3.70 Nm-2 and 38.74 W.

CONCLUSION

A conclusion, the result is show the obviously different with the baffle or without baffle.
Without baffle, it focused for the flow of fluid is smoothly and in a clockwise direction. while
with baffle the fluid flow in a stagnant direction and no specific direction. It is because, when
baffle is inserted there will produce high sheared mixing. so, the design of impeller are the most
important due to affect the flow of fluid.

For experiment 1, if baffles is set up the screw propeller has highest torque the followed by flat
paddle and turbine impeller. Normally, in the industries will use the flat paddle impeller due to
effective and affordable cost. It also not so slow and not consume much of power.
For experiment 2, if baffle is inserted it will gives the higher torque and also power consumed.
The flat paddle are highest compared to others. It is because it have high shear mixing
characteristic and the most important is high effective for dispersive mixing. In this experiment,
it considers the oil which is high viscosity compared to water. In other word, the flat paddle
impeller has high efficiency.

RECOMMENDATION
There are some recommendations that can be done in order to get more accurate data for this
experiment such as:

1) The experiment should be repeated at least 3 times in order to obtain average results which
lead to more accurate results and ensure the oil in clean state (no contamination) before mixing
it with the impellers.
2) Each impeller needs to be attached to the base of the bush level carefully so that it cannot
get off during the experiment and the person who handle the oil should wear gloves to avoid
infection and easier to do a job when handling the experiment

REFENNCES
APPENDICES